INSURANCE FORMS: INTRACTABLE PAIN - S.B. 661 (S-1) & 662 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 661 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Senate Bill 662 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Senator Mike Goschka (Senate Bill 661)
Senator Dale L. Shugars (Senate Bill 662)
Committee: Health Policy
CONTENT
Senate Bills 661 (S-1) and 662 (S-1) would amend the Nonprofit Health Care Corporation Reform Act and the Insurance Code, respectively, to delete references to "intractable" pain in forms describing coverage.
The Nonprofit Health Care Corporation Reform Act requires Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) to give subscribers a form that describes the terms and conditions of the corporation's certificate. The Insurance Code also requires health insurers to give insureds a form that describes the terms and conditions of the insurers' policies and certificates. Both forms must describe, among other things, how the covered benefits apply in the evaluation and treatment of intractable pain.
The Act and the Code also require BCBSM and health insurers to provide upon request to members or insureds under prudent purchaser agreements, the professional credentials of participating health professionals, including those who are board certified in pain medicine and the evaluation and treatment of intractable pain.
The bills would delete the term "intractable" from these provisions.
Each bill contains an enacting section stating that the proposed changes could not be construed as creating a new mandated benefit for any coverages issued under the existing statute.
MCL 550.1402a (S.B. 661) - Legislative Analyst: C. Layman
500.2212a (S.B. 662)
FISCAL IMPACT
Because the bills simply would revise the type of information that must be contained in an insurance certificate, as opposed to mandating specific services, the bills should not have any fiscal impact on State or local government.
Date Completed: 10-29-01 - Fiscal Analyst: J. Walkerfloor\sb661-662 - Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.