HOUSE BILL No. 6268

 

June 22, 2006, Introduced by Rep. Mortimer and referred to the Committee on Health Policy.

 

     A bill to amend 1956 PA 218, entitled

 

"The insurance code of 1956,"

 

(MCL 500.100 to 500.8302) by adding section 3406s.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 3406s. (1) An insurer that delivers, issues for delivery,

 

or renews in this state on or after January 1, 2007 an expense-

 

incurred hospital, medical, or surgical policy or certificate and a

 

health maintenance organization that issues or renews a group or

 

individual contract on or after January 1, 2007 shall provide

 

coverage for the treatment of genetic inborn errors of metabolism

 

that involve amino acid, carbohydrate, and fat metabolism and for

 

which medically standard methods of diagnosis, treatment, and

 

monitoring exist.

 

     (2) Coverage under this section shall include expenses of

 

diagnosing, monitoring, and controlling disorders by nutritional

 


and medical assessment, including clinical services, biochemical

 

analysis, medical supplies, prescription drugs, corrective lenses

 

for conditions related to the genetic inborn error of metabolism,

 

nutritional management, and special medical foods used in treatment

 

to compensate for the metabolic abnormality and to maintain

 

adequate nutritional status.

 

     (3) Coverage under this section shall not have deductibles,

 

copayment, coinsurance, dollar limits, or durational limits that

 

are less favorable than those for physical illness generally.

 

     (4) As used in this section:

 

     (a) "Genetic inborn error of metabolism" means a rare,

 

inherited disorder that meets all of the following:

 

     (i) Is present at birth.

 

     (ii) If untreated, results in mental retardation or death.

 

     (iii) Causes the necessity for consumption of special medical

 

foods.

 

     (b) "Special medical foods" means nutritional substances in

 

any form that meet all of the following:

 

     (i) Are formulated to be consumed or administered internally

 

under the supervision of a physician.

 

     (ii) Are specifically processed or formulated to be distinct in

 

1 or more nutrients present in natural food.

 

     (iii) Are intended for the medical and nutritional management of

 

patients with limited capacity to metabolize ordinary foodstuffs or

 

certain nutrients contained in ordinary foodstuffs or who have

 

other specific nutrient requirements as established by medical

 

evaluation.

 


     (iv) Are essential to optimize growth, health, and metabolic

 

homeostasis.

 

     (c) "Treatment" means medical services provided by licensed

 

health care professionals, including physicians and dietitians,

 

with specific training in managing patients diagnosed with genetic

 

inborn errors of metabolism.