85R1704 MEW-D
 
  By: Anderson of McLennan H.B. No. 831
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to coverage for treatment of craniofacial abnormalities
  under certain health benefit plans.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 1367, Insurance Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1367.1535 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1367.1535.  COVERAGE FOR TREATMENT OF CRANIOFACIAL
  ABNORMALITIES. A health benefit plan described by Section 1367.153
  that provides coverage for reconstructive surgery for craniofacial
  abnormalities, as defined in accordance with that section, must
  provide coverage for the treatment of the primary conditions
  constituting craniofacial abnormalities and secondary conditions
  related to or arising from craniofacial abnormalities, including:
               (1)  oral and facial surgery, surgical management, and
  follow-up care;
               (2)  prosthetic treatments, including obturators and
  speech and feeding appliances;
               (3)  orthodontic treatment and management;
               (4)  preventive and restorative dentistry to ensure
  good health and adequate dental structures for orthodontic
  treatment or prosthetic management or therapy;
               (5)  speech-language pathology services, including
  evaluation and therapy;
               (6)  audiological assessments and amplification
  devices;
               (7)  otolaryngological treatment and management;
               (8)  psychological assessment and counseling; and
               (9)  genetic assessment counseling for the parents and
  child.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a health benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or
  renewed on or after January 1, 2018. A plan delivered, issued for
  delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2018, 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.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.