Senate Bill 2156
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2000 SB 2156
By Senator Holzendorf
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1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to health insurance; amending
3 s. 624.215, Florida Statutes; defining the term
4 "mandated health benefit"; providing an
5 effective date.
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7 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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9 Section 1. Section 624.215, Florida Statutes, is
10 amended to read:
11 624.215 Proposals for legislation which mandates
12 health benefit coverage; review by Legislature.--
13 (1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--The Legislature finds that
14 there is an increasing number of proposals which mandate that
15 certain health benefits be provided by insurers and health
16 maintenance organizations as components of individual and
17 group policies. The Legislature further finds that many of
18 these benefits provide beneficial social and health
19 consequences which may be in the public interest. However,
20 the Legislature also recognizes that most mandated benefits
21 contribute to the increasing cost of health insurance
22 premiums. Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to
23 conduct a systematic review of current and proposed mandated
24 or mandatorily offered health coverages and to establish
25 guidelines for such a review. This review will assist the
26 Legislature in determining whether mandating a particular
27 coverage is in the public interest.
28 (2) DEFINITION.--For purposes of this section, a
29 "mandated health benefit" is a statutory requirement imposed
30 upon health benefit plans offered by health insurers or health
31 maintenance organizations to provide their insureds,
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Florida Senate - 2000 SB 2156
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1 policyholders, or subscribers with coverage for specific
2 health care services, treatments, drugs, or supplies; coverage
3 for particular health conditions; coverage for certain
4 providers of health care services; or coverage for certain
5 persons because of their relation to the covered individual.
6 (3)(2) MANDATED HEALTH COVERAGE; REPORT TO AGENCY FOR
7 HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION AND LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES;
8 GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING IMPACT.--Every person or organization
9 seeking consideration of a legislative proposal which would
10 mandate a health coverage or the offering of a health coverage
11 by an insurance carrier, health care service contractor, or
12 health maintenance organization as a component of individual
13 or group policies, shall submit to the Agency for Health Care
14 Administration and the legislative committees having
15 jurisdiction a report which assesses the social and financial
16 impacts of the proposed coverage. Guidelines for assessing the
17 impact of a proposed mandated or mandatorily offered health
18 coverage, to the extent that information is available, shall
19 include:
20 (a) To what extent is the treatment or service
21 generally used by a significant portion of the population.
22 (b) To what extent is the insurance coverage generally
23 available.
24 (c) If the insurance coverage is not generally
25 available, to what extent does the lack of coverage result in
26 persons avoiding necessary health care treatment.
27 (d) If the coverage is not generally available, to
28 what extent does the lack of coverage result in unreasonable
29 financial hardship.
30 (e) The level of public demand for the treatment or
31 service.
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Florida Senate - 2000 SB 2156
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1 (f) The level of public demand for insurance coverage
2 of the treatment or service.
3 (g) The level of interest of collective bargaining
4 agents in negotiating for the inclusion of this coverage in
5 group contracts.
6 (h) To what extent will the coverage increase or
7 decrease the cost of the treatment or service.
8 (i) To what extent will the coverage increase the
9 appropriate uses of the treatment or service.
10 (j) To what extent will the mandated treatment or
11 service be a substitute for a more expensive treatment or
12 service.
13 (k) To what extent will the coverage increase or
14 decrease the administrative expenses of insurance companies
15 and the premium and administrative expenses of policyholders.
16 (l) The impact of this coverage on the total cost of
17 health care.
18 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2000.
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21 SENATE SUMMARY
22 Defines the term "mandated health benefit" for purposes
of assessing the effects of legislative proposals
23 mandating benefits.
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