SRC-JXG S.B. 1029 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1029 By: Madla Economic Development 4/19/1999 As Filed DIGEST Currently, the Insurance Code prohibits health insurance carriers from discriminating against particular practitioners of the healing arts. S.B. 1029 would prevent discrimination against licensed acupuncturists or doctors of oriental medicine, require a health insurance policy to state whether it does or does not cover acupuncture, and allow an acupuncture patient to obtain treatment paid by the health insurance plan, if the patient has a disorder that could be treated within the scope and practice of acupuncture. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1029 includes a licensed acupuncturist and doctor of oriental medicine under a policy of health and accident insurance. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subsection (B), Section 2, Article 3.70-2, V.T.C.S., as amended by Chapters 946 and 1260, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, to require an accident and sickness insurance to include an exception provision, which must include licensed acupuncturist or doctor of oriental medicine, in designating the practitioners who will and will not be recognized. Defines licensed acupuncturist or doctor of oriental medicine. SECTION 2. Amends Section 3, Article 21.52, Insurance Code, as amended by Chapters 429 and 541, Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, and Chapter 946, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, to authorize any person who is issued, who is a party to, or who is a beneficiary under any health insurance policy delivered, renewed, or issued for delivery in this state by any insurance company, association, or organization to which this article applies to select a licensed acupuncturist or doctor of oriental medicine to perform the services or procedures scheduled in the policy that fall within the scope of the license of that practitioner. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.