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.