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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to congenital craniofacial anomalies;

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requiring that the Agency for Health Care Administration,

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in consultation with the Office of Insurance Regulation,

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conduct a study concerning the medical necessity, costs,

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and efficacy of mandating coverage for certain treatments

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and therapies; requiring that the agency report its

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findings and recommendations to the Legislature; providing

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an appropriation; providing an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1. (1) The Agency for Health Care Administration,

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in consultation with the Office of Insurance Regulation, shall

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conduct a study evaluating the medical necessity, efficacy, and

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costs of requiring health insurers and health maintenance

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organizations to provide coverage for cranial-skull-molding

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orthotics and other therapies used in the treatment of

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deformational or positional plagiocephaly. The agency and office

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shall evaluate whether gaps in coverage currently exist in the

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small and large group insurance markets for medically necessary

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care and treatment of plagiocephaly. The agency shall provide

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information concerning the types of benefits, including the cost

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of such benefits, provided to Medicaid recipients for the

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treatment of plagiocephaly, and the demographic characteristics

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of such Medicaid recipients. The Department of Health shall

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coordinate with the agency to provide such information concerning

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coverage and the costs of providing such coverage to children

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having plagiocephaly who are enrolled in the Children's Medical

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Services Program.

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     (2) The agency, in consultation with the office, may

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contract with an actuary who is a member of the American Academy

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of Actuaries and other persons who have an extensive background

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in health insurance for the purpose of assisting the agency in

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evaluating the medical necessity, efficacy, and costs of such

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coverage. The agency shall report its findings and

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recommendations related to mandating insurance coverage for the

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treatment of plagiocephaly to the President of the Senate and the

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Speaker of the House of Representatives no later than January 1,

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2009.

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     Section 2. For the 2008-2009 fiscal year, the sum of

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$25,000 is appropriated in nonrecurring funds from the Insurance

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Regulatory Trust Fund to the Office of Insurance Regulation for

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the purpose of funding the study conducted by the Agency for

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Health Care Administration as provided in this act.

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     Section 3.  This act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.