BILL ANALYSIS



S.B. 607
By: Zaffirini (McDonald)
05-16-95
Committee Report (Amended)


BACKGROUND

     Osteoporosis is a preventable and treatable bone disease. 
Early detection can help most women avoid the negative effects of
the disease, but many women learn about osteoporosis only after a
fracture occurs.  Educating women that osteoporosis is a common and
potentially dangerous disease can help motivate them to take the
steps necessary to avoid or mitigate the disease's effects.

PURPOSE

     S.B. 607 requires a group health insurance policy to provide
benefits for the detection and prevention of osteoporosis.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

     It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not
expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency or institution.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 21E, Insurance Code, by adding Article
21.53C, as follows:

Art. 21.53C.  BENEFITS FOR DETECTION AND PREVENTION OF OSTEOPOROSIS
UNDER GROUP POLICIES.  (a) Defines "group health insurance policy."

     (b) Defines "qualified individual."
     
     (c) Requires a group health insurance policy, for a qualified
     individual covered by the policy, to provide for medically
     accepted bone mass measurement for the detection of low bone
     mass and to determine the person's risk of osteoporosis and
     fractures associated with osteoporosis.
     
SECTION 2. Emergency clause.  Effective date: 90 days after
adjournment.

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

     The Committee amendment to S.B. 607 defines a "Qualified
individual" as a post-menopausal women who is not receiving
estrogen replacement therapy; or an individual with vertebral
abnormalities; primary hyperparathyroidism; or has a history of
bone fractures.
Additionally, a "Qualified individual" is an individual who is
receiving long-term giucocorticord therapy; being monitored to
asses the response to or efficacy of an approved osteoporosis drug
therapy.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

     In accordance with House rules, S.B. 607 was heard in a public
hearing on April 26, 1995.  The Chair laid out S.B. 607 and
recognized Representative McDonald to explain the bill. The Chair
left S.B. 607 as pending business before the Committee.


     The Chair laid out S.B. 607 as pending business before the
Committee in a public hearing on May 10, 1995.  The Chair laid out
an amendment by Representative Counts to S.B. 607 and recognized
Representative Counts who moved the Committee adopt the amendment
to S.B. 607.
The Chair heard no objections and the amendment to S.B. 607 was
adopted.

     The Chair recognized Representative Counts who moved the
Committee report S.B. 607 as amended to the full House with the
recommendation that it do pass, be printed, and be sent to the
Committee on Local and Consent.  The motion prevailed by the
following vote: AYES: (8); NAYES: (0); PNV: (0); ABSENT: (1).

     In accordance with House Rules, the House Committee on
Insurance met in a formal meeting on May 16, 1995 at desk #24 on
the House Floor and was called to order by the Chair,
Representative John Smithee.  The Chair recognized Representative
Driver who moved the Committee reconsider the  previously adopted
Committee Report on S.B. 607 as amended by which the vote was
taken.  The Chair heard no objections to the reconsideration of
S.B. 607. 

     The Chair laid out S.B. 607 and Committee amendment #1 by
Representative Counts for reconsideration by the Committee.  The
Chair recognized Representative G. Lewis who moved the Committee
re-adopt Committee amendment #1 to S.B. 607.  The Chair heard no
objections and Committee amendment #1 to S.B. 607 was adopted.

     The Chair recognized Representative G. Lewis who moved the
Committee report S.B. 607 as amended to the full House with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  Representative
Driver seconded the motion and the motion prevailed by the
following vote:
AYES: (6); NAYES: (0); PNV: (0); ABSENT: (3).