SF 2122 (LSB 5920XS (2) 83)

SENATE FILE 2122

BY  BOLKCOM

A BILL FOR

An Act requiring certain health benefit contracts, policies, or plans to provide coverage of tobacco use cessation programs and providing an applicability date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  514C.26  Tobacco use cessation program coverage.

   1.  Notwithstanding the uniformity of treatment requirements of section 514C.6, a contract, policy, or plan providing for third-party payment or prepayment of health or medical expenses shall provide coverage benefits for a tobacco use cessation program for any enrollee who is eighteen years of age or older, including but not limited to the following classes of third-party payment provider contracts, policies, or plans delivered, issued for delivery, continued, or renewed in this state on or after September 1, 2010:
   a.  Individual or group accident and sickness insurance providing coverage on an expense-incurred basis.
   b.  An individual or group hospital or medical service contract issued pursuant to chapter 509, 514, or 514A.
   c.  An individual or group health maintenance organization contract regulated under chapter 514B.
   d.  An individual or group Medicare supplemental policy, unless coverage pursuant to such policy is preempted by federal law.
   e.  A plan established pursuant to chapter 509A for public employees.
   2.  This section shall not apply to accident-only, specified disease, short-term hospital or medical, hospital confinement indemnity, credit, dental, vision, long-term care, basic hospital and medical-surgical expense coverage as defined by the commissioner, disability income insurance coverage, coverage issued as a supplement to liability insurance, workers’ compensation or similar insurance, or automobile medical payment insurance.
   3.  As used in this section, “tobacco use cessation program” means a program recommended by a physician that follows the United States public health service guidelines for tobacco use cessation or a product or service with an “A” or “B” rating from the task force on community preventive services at the United States centers for disease control and prevention of the United States department of health and human services. “Tobacco use cessation program” includes education and medical treatment components designed to assist a person in ceasing the use of tobacco products.
   4.  The commissioner of insurance shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A as necessary to administer this section.
EXPLANATION
   This bill requires that specified individual or group health benefit contracts, policies, or plans provide coverage benefits for a tobacco use cessation program for any enrollee who is 18 years of age or older. The bill is applicable to third-party payment provider contracts, policies, or plans that are delivered, issued for delivery, continued, or renewed in this state on or after September 1, 2010.
   For purposes of the bill, “tobacco use cessation program” means a program recommended by a physician that follows the United States public health service guidelines for tobacco use cessation or a product or service with an “A” or “B” rating from the task force on community preventive services at the United States centers for disease control and prevention.