SD38 - Mandated Coverage of Diabetes
Executive Summary: The Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor referred Senate Bill 86 and Senate Bill 244 to the Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits (Advisory Commission) in 1998. The patron of Senate Bill 86 is Senator Charles J. Colgan, and the patron of Senate Bill 244 is Senator Janet D. Howell. The House Committee on Corporations, Insurance and Banking referred House Bill 1398, whose patron is Delegate Robert D. Orrock, to the Advisory Commission during the 1998 Session of the General Assembly. However, the Advisory Commission did not meet in 1998 and the bills were not heard prior to the 1999 Session of the General Assembly. Senate Bill 244 was referred to the 1999 Session by the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor. The bill was passed by the House and Senate during the legislative session and then signed by the Governor. The bill became effective on July 1, 1999. Senator Colgan reintroduced a mandate for coverage of diabetes in the 1999 session. The bill, Senate Bill 1104, was referred to the Advisory Commission by the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor. The chairman of that committee also requested that Senate Bill 244 be reviewed by the Advisory Commission in 1999. The Advisory Commission held a public hearing to receive comments on the bills on May 4, 1999, in Richmond. Six speakers spoke in support of the bills. Additional comments were made by representatives of Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield to describe their implementation of the diabetes coverage requirement for state employee coverage. Written comments in support of the mandate were received from the Virginia Diabetes Legislative Coalition. The members of the coalition include the American Diabetes Association—Southern Region, the Virginia Dietetic Association, the Central Virginia Association of Diabetes Educators, Eastern Virginia Association of Diabetes Educators, Mountain Region Association of Diabetes Educators, Capitol Association of Diabetes Educators, and the Virginia Pharmacist’s Association. The Advisory Commission concluded its review of the bills on June 1, 1999. |
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