SF 74 was an effort to improve health care and control costs by requiring insurance companies to cover pre-screening for early detection of illnesses such as (but not limited to) breast cancer, prostate cancer and cervical cancer.

SF 74 followed a similar bill (SF 44) in the 1996 budget session, which failed in Committee of the Whole in the House on a 28-32 vote after passing the Senate 19-10.

SF 74 required 80% minimum insurance coverage prior to deductibles for the first $200 of covered services (with 20% coinsurance by the insured), for a maximum benefit of $160 per calendar year.

Proponents of the bill argued that it would save lives and money by detecting diseases in their early stages, when treatment is more likely to succeed and is less expensive.

Opponents argued that the Legislature should not create mandates for insurance companies on what types of coverage to provide. They also argued that small businesses cannot afford higher premiums (despite evidence that avoiding catastrophic medical costs should keep premiums down).

The bill passed the Senate, 16-13 (1 excused), and was referred to the House Appropriations Committee, where it died on a 3-4 vote. The chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Rick Tempest, is an insurance agent, but did not declare a conflict of interest.

During the 1998 session, the Legislature passed a bill requiring individual and group insurance policies to disclose coverage for wellness benefits, but did not require such benefits.