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).