Insurers will pay for special cardiac tests (USA)

"Many middle-aged and senior Texans who are covered by certain insurance plans now qualify for tests that proponents say may detect undiagnosed cardiac disease and help them avoid premature death. A law that took effect Friday makes Texas the first state to require insurance companies to reimburse preventive heart screenings. When policies are updated this year, health insurers will be required to reimburse up to $200 for exams given to women ages 56 to 74 and men 46 to 75 considered at elevated risk of heart disease based on the Framingham Risk Score, which assesses heart disease risk based on studies of large populations over time. The bill was introduced by state Rep. Rene Oliveira, D- Brownsville, who had heart bypass surgery in his late 30s and a family history of heart disease. He decided to push the legislation after fighting his insurer in 2006 to cover a subsequent screening that detected the need for another heart procedure." - Chron