HD33 - Mandated Coverage for Early Intervention Services (House Bill 2715, 1997)

  • Published: 1998
  • Author: Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits
  • Enabling Authority: Code of Virginia - § 9-298

Executive Summary:
During the 1997 Session of the General Assembly, the House Committee on Corporations, Insurance and Banking referred House Bill 2715 to the Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits (Advisory Commission). House Bill 271 5 was patroned by Delegate Mary T. Christian.

The Advisory Commission held a hearing on July 29, 1997, in Richmond to receive public comments on House Bill 2715. In addition to the patron, eight speakers addressed the proposal. Representatives from the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS), the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and The Virginia Pediatric Society, The Chesapeake Center, Inc., and three concerned citizens spoke in favor of the bill. Representatives of the Virginia Association of Health Maintenance Organizations (VAHMO) and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce spoke in opposition to the measure. A representative of Kaiser Permanente also provided comments on the bill.

Written comments in support of the bill were provided by representatives from the DMHMRSAS, the Association of Virginia Early Intervention Programs, the Speech and Hearing Association of Virginia, the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association, the Virginia Physical Therapy Association, the Richmond Area Association for Retarded Citizens, Parent-Infant Program with Henrico Area Mental Health and Retardation Services, the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and The Virginia Pediatric Society, Family Practice Associates, Inc., Children's Hospital, Henrico Area InterAgency Coordinating Councils, The Children's Center and fourteen interested families. In addition, the VAHMO, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield, and the Virginia Manufacturers Association submitted comments in opposition to House Bill 2715.

The Advisory Commission concluded its review of House Bill 2715 on August 27, 1997.