Gov. Kim Reynolds signs new Iowa health insurance laws. Here's what they do:

Gov. Kim Reynolds on Wednesday inked into law two bills making changes to health insurance, as she continues to sign the raft of bills the Iowa Legislature passed this session.

House File 2489 would require insurers to cover supplemental and diagnostic breast examinations, while House File 2668 requires providers to cover biomarker testing for monitoring diseases and conditions.

Here's what to know about the new laws and how they'll affect health insurance in Iowa.

New law covers supplemental, diagnostic breast examinations

Breast ultrasounds and MRIs to scan for suspected or undetected cancer would all be covered under one of the new laws.

Screening mammograms, which use X-ray to detect abnormalities, are covered under current law. But supplemental and diagnostic screenings with MRI and ultrasound, which are often requested of women during follow-up visits, are not covered — leading to extra costs and, for some patients limited by income, avoiding the screenings.

The bill, which requires third-party insurers to cover those supplemental and diagnostic screenings, received unanimous support in both the House and Senate.

Sen. Cherielynn Westrich, R-Ottumwa, said the other screenings for key in some patients where an initial mammogram may not detect cancer.

"An MRI is one of the most effective ways around for finding these breast cancers, even those growing in dense tissue, which is notoriously hard to image," Westrich said.

Biomarker testing to track disease would be covered under new law

Lab testing that helps track diseases and guide treatment would be covered by insurance under another law Reynolds signed Wednesday.

Biomarker testing for "diagnosing, treating, appropriately managing or monitoring" a disease or condition would be covered by insurance in cases where the testing has "clinical utility." That would include any tests approved by the FDA and other nationally recognized clinical guidelines.

The law specifies that coverage should "limit disruptions in care," such as avoiding unnecessary multiple biopsies, and that patients and providers have access to a "clear and convenient process" to request an exception online.

Reynolds, whose husband Kevin was diagnosed with lung cancer last year, said they had seen the utility of the testing first hand.

"We personally got to use it, so I can tell that it definitely makes a difference," Reynolds said. "It really ties the treatment to a specific marker, so it really does matter. Especially with where we're going with the technology, innovation and all the research that's being done."

The law also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to report how many biomarker tests are provided, and the total cost of the tests, for those covered under state assistance.

When will the new laws on health insurance go into effect?

Both laws will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

Galen Bacharier covers the Statehouse & politics for the Register. Reach him at gbacharier@registermedia.com or (573) 219-7440, and follow him on Twitter @galenbacharier.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Gov. Kim Reynolds signs new Iowa health insurance laws. What they do