RD18 - House Bill 1348 - Mandated Coverage for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency


Executive Summary:
The House Committee on Commerce and Labor referred House Bill 1348 to the Special Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits (Advisory Commission) in 2002. House Bill 1348 was introduced by Delegate John S. Reid.

The Advisory Commission held a public hearing on October 10, 2002 in Richmond to receive comments on House Bill 1348. In addition to the bill’s chief patron, one physician with experience treating Alpha-1 patients, one representative of the national Alpha-1 Foundation, and one representative from the American Lung Association (ALA) spoke in favor of the proposed bill. A representative of the Virginia Association of Health Plans (VAHP) spoke in opposition to the proposed legislation.

A representative from the Alpha-1 Foundation, who spoke in favor of the bill at the public hearing, provided written statements that contained a cost analysis of treatments for Alpha-1. The Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA), and VAHP provided written comments that were in opposition to House Bill 1348.