By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 607 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to benefits for the detection and prevention of 1-2 osteoporosis under group health insurance policies. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 21, Insurance Code, is 1-5 amended by adding Article 21.53C to read as follows: 1-6 Art. 21.53C. BENEFITS FOR DETECTION AND PREVENTION OF 1-7 OSTEOPOROSIS UNDER GROUP POLICIES. (a) In this article, "group 1-8 health insurance policy" means a group insurance policy, group 1-9 hospital service contract, or group contract issued by a health 1-10 maintenance organization that is delivered, issued for delivery, or 1-11 renewed in this state and that provides benefits for medical or 1-12 surgical expenses incurred as a result of accident or sickness. 1-13 (b) In this article, "qualified individual" means an 1-14 estrogen-deficient woman at clinical risk for osteoporosis, an 1-15 individual with vertebral abnormalities, an individual receiving 1-16 long-term glucocorticoid therapy, an individual with primary 1-17 hyperparathyroidism, an individual with a history of bone 1-18 fractures, or an individual being monitored to assess the response 1-19 to or efficacy of approved osteoporosis drug therapies. 1-20 (c) A group health insurance policy must provide coverage 1-21 for a qualified individual covered by the policy for medically 1-22 accepted bone mass measurement for the detection of low bone mass 1-23 and to determine the person's risk of osteoporosis and fractures 1-24 associated with osteoporosis. 2-1 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-2 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-3 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-4 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-5 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.