S.B. No. 607 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) "Qualified individual" means: 1-14 (1) a postmenopausal woman who is not receiving 1-15 estrogen replacement therapy; 1-16 (2) an individual with: 1-17 (A) vertebral abnormalities; 1-18 (B) primary hyperparathyroidism; or 1-19 (C) a history of bone fractures; or 1-20 (3) an individual who is: 1-21 (A) receiving long-term glucocorticoid therapy; 1-22 or 1-23 (B) being monitored to assess the response to or 1-24 efficacy of an approved osteoporosis drug therapy. 2-1 (c) A group health insurance policy must provide coverage 2-2 for a qualified individual covered by the policy for medically 2-3 accepted bone mass measurement for the detection of low bone mass 2-4 and to determine the person's risk of osteoporosis and fractures 2-5 associated with osteoporosis. 2-6 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-7 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-8 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-9 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-10 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.