((LATE FILED FOR: 4/29/2008 8:30:00 AM))Amendment
Bill No. CS/CS/CS/SB 2654
Amendment No. 749067
CHAMBER ACTION
Senate House
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1Representative Gardiner offered the following:
2
3     Amendment to Amendment (171333) (with title amendment)
4     Remove lines 610-807 and insert:
5     Section 12.  Section 624.916, Florida Statutes, is created
6to read:
7     624.916  Developmental disabilities compact.--
8     (1)  The Office of Insurance Regulation shall convene a
9workgroup by August 31, 2008, for the purpose of negotiating a
10compact that includes a binding agreement among the participants
11relating to insurance and access to services for persons with
12developmental disabilities as defined in s. 393.063, with the
13addition of autism spectrum disorder. The workgroup shall
14consist of the following:
15     (a)  Representatives of all health insurers licensed under
16this chapter.
17     (b)  Representatives of all health maintenance
18organizations licensed under part I of chapter 641.
19     (c)  Representatives of employers with self-insured health
20benefit plans.
21     (d)  Two designees of the Governor, one of whom must be a
22consumer advocate.
23     (e)  A designee of the President of the Senate.
24     (f)  A designee of the Speaker of the House of
25Representatives.
26     (2)  The Office of Insurance Regulation shall convene a
27consumer advisory workgroup for the purpose of providing a forum
28for comment on the compact negotiated in subsection (1). The
29office shall convene the workgroup prior to finalization of the
30compact.
31     (3)  The agreement shall include the following components:
32     (a)  A requirement that each signatory to the agreement
33increase coverage for behavior analysis and behavior assistant
34services as defined in s. 409.815(2)(r) and speech therapy,
35physical therapy, and occupational therapy when necessary due to
36the presence of a developmental disability as defined in s.
37393.063 or autism spectrum disorder.
38     (b)  Procedures for clear and specific notice to
39policyholders identifying the amount, scope, and conditions
40under which coverage is provided for behavior analysis and
41behavior assistant services as defined in s. 409.815(2)(r) and
42speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy when
43necessary due to the presence of a developmental disability as
44defined in s. 393.063 or autism spectrum disorder.
45     (c)  Penalties for documented cases of denial of claims for
46medically necessary services due to the presence of a
47developmental disability as defined in s. 393.063 or autism
48spectrum disorder.
49     (d)  Proposals for new product lines that may be offered in
50conjunction with traditional health insurance and provide a more
51appropriate means of spreading risk, financing costs, and
52accessing favorable prices.
53     (4)  Upon completion of the negotiations for the compact,
54the office shall report the results to the Governor, the
55President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
56Representatives.
57     (5)  Beginning February 15, 2009, and continuing annually
58thereafter, the Office of Insurance Regulation shall provide a
59report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
60Speaker of the House of Representatives regarding the
61implementation of the agreement negotiated under this section.
62The report shall include:
63     (a)  The signatories to the agreement.
64     (b)  An analysis of the coverage provided under the
65agreement in comparison to the coverage required under ss.
66627.6686 and 641.31098.
67     (c)  An analysis of the compliance with the agreement by
68the signatories, including documented cases of claims denied in
69violation of the agreement.
70     (6)  The Office of Insurance Regulation shall continue to
71monitor participation, compliance, and effectiveness of the
72agreement and report its findings at least annually.
73     Section 13.  Section 627.6686, Florida Statutes, is created
74to read:
75     627.6686  Coverage for individuals with developmental
76disabilities required; exception.--
77     (1)  As used in this section, the term:
78     (a)  "Developmental disability" has the same meaning as
79provided in s. 393.063, with the addition of autism spectrum
80disorder.
81     (b)  "Eligible individual" means an individual under 18
82years of age or an individual 18 years of age or older who is in
83high school who has been diagnosed as having a developmental
84disability at 8 years of age or younger.
85     (c)  "Health insurance plan" means a group health insurance
86policy or group health benefit plan offered by an insurer which
87includes the state group insurance program provided under s.
88110.123. The term does not include any health insurance plan
89offered in the individual market, any health insurance plan that
90is individually underwritten, or any health insurance plan
91provided to a small employer.
92     (d)  "Insurer" means an insurer providing health insurance
93coverage, which is licensed to engage in the business of
94insurance in this state and is subject to insurance regulation.
95     (2)  A health insurance plan issued or renewed on or after
96July 1, 2009, shall provide coverage to an eligible individual
97for:
98     (a)  Well-baby and well-child screening for diagnosing the
99presence of a developmental disability.
100     (b)  Treatment of a developmental disability through speech
101therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and behavior
102analysis services. Behavior analysis services shall be provided
103by an individual certified pursuant to s. 393.17 or an
104individual licensed under chapter 490 or chapter 491.
105     (3)  The coverage required pursuant to subsection (2) is
106subject to the following requirements:
107     (a)  Coverage shall be limited to treatment that is
108prescribed by the insured's treating physician in accordance
109with a treatment plan.
110     (b)  Coverage for the services described in subsection (2)
111shall be limited to $36,000 annually and may not exceed $108,000
112in total lifetime benefits.
113     (c)  Coverage may not be denied on the basis that provided
114services are habilitative in nature.
115     (d)  Coverage may be subject to other general exclusions
116and limitations of the insurer's policy or plan, including, but
117not limited to, coordination of benefits, participating provider
118requirements, restrictions on services provided by family or
119household members, and utilization review of health care
120services, including the review of medical necessity, case
121management, and other managed care provisions.
122     (4)  The coverage required pursuant to subsection (2) may
123not be subject to dollar limits, deductibles, or coinsurance
124provisions that are less favorable to an insured than the dollar
125limits, deductibles, or coinsurance provisions that apply to
126physical illnesses that are generally covered under the health
127insurance plan, except as otherwise provided in subsection (3).
128     (5)  An insurer may not deny or refuse to issue coverage
129for medically necessary services, refuse to contract with, or
130refuse to renew or reissue or otherwise terminate or restrict
131coverage for an individual because the individual is diagnosed
132as having a developmental disability.
133     (6)  The treatment plan required pursuant to subsection (3)
134shall include all elements necessary for the health insurance
135plan to appropriately pay claims. These elements include, but
136are not limited to, a diagnosis, the proposed treatment by type,
137the frequency and duration of treatment, the anticipated
138outcomes stated as goals, the frequency with which the treatment
139plan will be updated, and the signature of the treating
140physician.
141     (7)  Beginning January 1, 2011, the maximum benefit under
142paragraph (3)(b) shall be adjusted annually on January 1 of each
143calendar year to reflect any change from the previous year in
144the medical component of the then current Consumer Price Index
145for all urban consumers, published by the Bureau of Labor
146Statistics of the United States Department of Labor.
147     (8)  This section may not be construed as limiting benefits
148and coverage otherwise available to an insured under a health
149insurance plan.
150     (9)  The Office of Insurance Regulation may not enforce
151this section against an insurer that is a signatory no later
152than July 1, 2009, to the developmental disabilities compact
153established under s. 624.916. The Office of Insurance Regulation
154shall enforce this section against an insurer that is a
155signatory to the compact established under s. 624.916 if the
156insurer has not complied with the terms of the compact for all
157health insurance plans by July 1, 2010.
158     Section 14.  Section 641.31098, Florida Statutes, is
159created to read:
160     641.31098  Coverage for individuals with developmental
161disabilities.--
162     (1)  As used in this section, the term:
163     (a)  "Developmental disability" has the same meaning as
164provided in s. 393.063, with the addition of autism spectrum
165disorder.
166     (b)  "Eligible individual" means an individual under 18
167years of age or an individual 18 years of age or older who is in
168high school who has been diagnosed as having a developmental
169disability at 8 years of age or younger.
170     (c)  "Health maintenance contract" means a group health
171maintenance contract offered by a health maintenance
172organization. This term does not include a health maintenance
173contract offered in the individual market, a health maintenance
174contract that is individually underwritten, or a health
175maintenance contract provided to a small employer.
176     (2)  A health maintenance contract issued or renewed on or
177after July 1, 2009, shall provide coverage to an eligible
178individual for:
179     (a)  Well-baby and well-child screening for diagnosing the
180presence of a developmental disability.
181     (b)  Treatment of a developmental disability through speech
182therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and behavior
183analysis services. Behavior analysis services shall be provided
184by an individual certified pursuant to s. 393.17 or an
185individual licensed under chapter 490 or chapter 491.
186     (3)  The coverage required pursuant to subsection (2) is
187subject to the following requirements:
188     (a)  Coverage shall be limited to treatment that is
189prescribed by the subscriber's treating physician in accordance
190with a treatment plan.
191     (b)  Coverage for the services described in subsection (2)
192shall be limited to $36,000 annually and may not exceed $108,000
193in total benefits.
194     (c)  Coverage may not be denied on the basis that provided
195services are habilitative in nature.
196     (d)  Coverage may be subject to general exclusions and
197limitations of the subscriber's contract, including, but not
198limited to, coordination of benefits, participating provider
199requirements, and utilization review of health care services,
200including the review of medical necessity, case management, and
201other managed care provisions.
202     (4)  The coverage required pursuant to subsection (2) may
203not be subject to dollar limits, deductibles, or coinsurance
204provisions that are less favorable to a subscriber than the
205dollar limits, deductibles, or coinsurance provisions that apply
206to physical illnesses that are generally covered under the
207subscriber's contract, except as otherwise provided in
208subsection (3).
209     (5)  A health maintenance organization may not deny or
210refuse to issue coverage for medically necessary services,
211refuse to contract with, or refuse to renew or reissue or
212otherwise terminate or restrict coverage for an individual
213solely because the individual is diagnosed as having a
214developmental disability.
215     (6)  The treatment plan required pursuant to subsection (3)
216shall include, but is not limited to, a diagnosis, the proposed
217treatment by type, the frequency and duration of treatment, the
218anticipated outcomes stated as goals, the frequency with which
219the treatment plan will be updated, and the signature of the
220treating physician.
221     (7)  Beginning January 1, 2011, the maximum benefit under
222paragraph (3)(b) shall be adjusted annually on January 1 of each
223calendar year to reflect any change from the previous year in
224the medical component of the then current Consumer Price Index
225for all urban consumers, published by the Bureau of Labor
226Statistics of the United States Department of Labor.
227     (8)  The Office of Insurance Regulation may not enforce
228this section against a health maintenance organization that is a
229signatory no later than July 1, 2009, to the developmental
230disabilities compact established under s. 624.916. The Office of
231Insurance Regulation shall enforce this section against a health
232maintenance organization that is a signatory to the compact
233established under s. 624.916 if the health maintenance
234organization has not complied with the terms of the compact for
235all health maintenance contracts by July 1, 2010.
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242
T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T
243     Remove lines 891-929 and insert:
244Legislature; creating s. 624.916, F.S.; directing the Office of
245Insurance Regulation to establish a workgroup to develop and
246execute a compact relating to coverage for insured persons with
247development disabilities; providing for membership of the
248workgroup; requiring the workgroup to convene within a specified
249period of time; directing the office to establish a consumer
250advisory workgroup and providing purpose thereof; requiring the
251compact to contain specified components; requiring reports to
252the Governor and the Legislature; creating s. 627.6686, F.S.;
253providing health insurance coverage for individuals with
254developmental disabilities; providing definitions; providing
255coverage for certain screening to diagnose and treat
256developmental disabilities; providing limitations on coverage;
257providing for eligibility standards for benefits and coverage;
258prohibiting insurers from denying coverage under certain
259circumstances; specifying required elements of a treatment plan;
260providing, beginning January 1, 2011, that the maximum benefit
261shall be adjusted annually; clarifying that the section may not
262be construed as limiting benefits and coverage otherwise
263available to an insured under a health insurance plan;
264prohibiting the Office of Insurance Regulation from enforcing
265certain provisions against insurers that are signatories to the
266developmental disabilities compact by a specified date; creating
267s. 641.31098, F.S.; providing coverage under a health
268maintenance contract for individuals with developmental
269disabilities; providing definitions; providing coverage for
270certain screening to diagnose and treat developmental
271disabilities; providing limitations on coverage; providing for
272eligibility standards for benefits and coverage; prohibiting
273health maintenance organizations from denying coverage under
274certain circumstances; specifying required elements of a
275treatment plan; providing, beginning January 1, 2011, that the
276maximum benefit shall be adjusted annually; prohibiting the
277Office of Insurance Regulation from enforcing certain provisions
278against health maintenance organizations that are signatories to
279the developmental disabilities compact by a specified date;
280providing an effective date.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.