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Introduced Version House Bill 2887 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
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H. B. 2887


         (By Delegates Frazier, Ellington, Mahan, Brown,

                 Marshall, Lawrence, Barill, Hall,

                       Hatfield and Hunt)


         [Introduced January 27, 2011; referred to the

         Committee on Banking and Insurance then Finance.]

 

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §5-16-7f; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §9-5-21; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-16-3v, all relating to requiring health insurance coverage for eosinophilic disorders.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §5-16-7f; that said code be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §9-5-21; and that said code be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-16-3v, all to read as follows:

CHAPTER 5. GENERAL POWERS AND AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNOR,

SECRETARY OF STATE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL; BOARD

OF PUBLIC WORKS; MISCELLANEOUS AGENCIES, COMMISSIONS,

OFFICES, PROGRAMS, ETC.

ARTICLE 16. WEST VIRGINIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES INSURANCE ACT.

§5-16-7f. Required coverage for eosinophilic disorders.

    (a) The agency shall provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of eosinophilic disorders. To the extent that the diagnosis of eosinophilic disorders and the treatment of eosinophilic disorders are not already covered by the agency, coverage under this section shall be included in health insurance policies that are delivered, executed, issued, amended, adjusted or renewed in this state, or outside this state if insuring residents of this state, on or after the effective date of the enactment of this section during the 2011 regular session of the Legislature. The agency may not terminate coverage, or refuse to deliver, execute, issue, amend, adjust or renew coverage to an individual solely because the individual is diagnosed with one of the eosinophilic disorders, has received treatment for eosinophilic disorders, or is at risk for a diagnosis of eosinophilic disorders.

    (b) Eosinophilic disorders occur when eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, are found in above-normal amounts in various parts of the body. When the body wants to attack a substance, such as an allergy-triggering food or airborne allergen, eosinophils respond by moving into the area and releasing a variety of toxins. However, when the body produces too many eosinophils, they can cause chronic inflammation, resulting in tissue damage. These rare diseases are diagnosed according to where the elevated levels of eosinophils are found and include:

    (1) Eosinophilic esophagitis (esophagus);

    (2) Eosinophilic gastritis (stomach);

    (3) Eosinophilic enteritis (small intestine);

    (4) Eosinophilic colitis (large intestine); and

    (5) Hypereosinophilic syndrome (blood and any organ).

    CHAPTER 9. HUMAN SERVICES.

ARTICLE 5. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

§9-5-21. Medicaid; required coverage for eosinophilic disorders.

    (a) The Department of Health and Human Resources shall provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of eosinophilic disorders. To the extent that the diagnosis of eosinophilic disorders and the treatment of eosinophilic disorders are not already covered by the agency, coverage under this section shall be included in health insurance policies that are delivered, executed, issued, amended, adjusted or renewed in this state, or outside this state if insuring residents of this state, on or after the effective date of the enactment of this section during the 2011 regular session of the Legislature. The agency may not terminate coverage, or refuse to deliver, execute, issue, amend, adjust or renew coverage to an individual solely because the individual is diagnosed with one of the eosinophilic disorders, has received treatment for eosinophilic disorders, or is at risk for a diagnosis of eosinophilic disorders.

    (b) Eosinophilic disorders occur when eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, are found in above-normal amounts in various parts of the body. When the body wants to attack a substance, such as an allergy-triggering food or airborne allergen, eosinophils respond by moving into the area and releasing a variety of toxins. However, when the body produces too many eosinophils, they can cause chronic inflammation, resulting in tissue damage. These rare diseases are diagnosed according to where the elevated levels of eosinophils are found and include:

    (1) Eosinophilic esophagitis (esophagus);

    (2) Eosinophilic gastritis (stomach);

    (3) Eosinophilic enteritis (small intestine);

    (4) Eosinophilic colitis (large intestine); and

    (5) Hypereosinophilic syndrome (blood and any organ).

CHAPTER 33. INSURANCE.

ARTICLE 16. GROUP ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE.

§33-16-3v. Requirements for coverage of eosinophilic disorders.     (a) A health insurance policy issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, except supplemental health insurance, shall provide coverage for the diagnosis of and treatment of eosinophilic disorders. To the extent that the diagnosis of eosinophilic disorders and the treatment of eosinophilic disorders are not already covered by a health insurance policy, coverage under this section will be included in health insurance policies that are delivered, executed, issued, amended, adjusted or renewed in this state, or outside this state if insuring residents of this state, on or after sixty days from the effective date of this section. No insurer may terminate coverage, or refuse to deliver, execute, issue, amend, adjust or renew coverage to an individual solely because the individual is diagnosed with one of the eosinophilic disorders or has received treatment for eosinophilic disorders

    (b) Eosinophilic disorders occur when eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, are found in above-normal amounts in various parts of the body. When the body wants to attack a substance, such as an allergy-triggering food or airborne allergen, eosinophils respond by moving into the area and releasing a variety of toxins. However, when the body produces too many eosinophils, they can cause chronic inflammation, resulting in tissue damage. These rare diseases are diagnosed according to where the elevated levels of eosinophils are found and include:

    (1) Eosinophilic esophagitis (esophagus);

    (2) Eosinophilic gastritis (stomach);

    (3) Eosinophilic enteritis (small intestine);

    (4) Eosinophilic colitis (large intestine); and

    (5) Hypereosinophilic syndrome (blood and any organ).




         NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require health insurance coverage for eosinophilic disorders.


     These sections are new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.

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