BILL ANALYSIS
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Senate Research Center |
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AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Interested parties note that although current law requiring health benefit plans that provide coverage for the treatment of diabetes and associated conditions to provide coverage for certain diabetes equipment and supplies requires that such a plan provide coverage for new or improved diabetes equipment or supplies determined by a physician or other health care practitioner to be medically necessary and appropriate, some health benefit plans do not provide coverage for continuous glucose monitors and artificial pancreas devices. The parties assert that these devices are now broadly accepted as standards of care for high-risk patients who cannot control their diabetes through multiple daily injections of insulin. H.B. 2133 seeks to remedy this inconsistency to help ensure that high-risk diabetic patients receive the treatment devices best suited to them.
H.B. 2133 amends current law relating to health benefit plan coverage for certain equipment and supplies associated with diabetes treatment.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Sections 1358.051(1) and (2), Insurance Code, as follows:
(1) Redefines “diabetes equipment” to include insulin pumps and associated supplies and appurtenances, including an insulin pump that works in conjunction with another medical device to provide automated or predictive insulin infusion suspend or control functionality as part of a system classified as an artificial pancreas device system by the United States Food and Drug Administration; and continuous glucose monitoring devices that continuously record glucose levels of individual users whether a freestanding device or integrated into an insulin pump. Makes nonsubstantive changes.
(2) Redefines “diabetes supplies” to include supplies related to insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring devices, including insulin infusion sets, insulin reservoirs, glucose sensors, and glucose data transmitters. Makes nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies only to a health benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after September 1, 2015. Provides that a health benefit plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before September 1, 2015, is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2015.