BILL ANALYSIS C.S.S.B. 607 By: Zaffirini Health and Human Services 3-22-95 Committee Report (Substituted) 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 As proposed, C.S.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 grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. 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.