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MINUTES OF THE SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

    STANDING COMMITTEE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2009
HOUSE BUILDING ROOM 30
STATE CAPITOL COMPLEX


Members Present:        Sen. D. Chris Buttars, Chair
                Sen. Gregory S. Bell
                Sen. Allen M. Christensen
                Sen. David P. Hinkins
                Sen. Patricia W. Jones
                Sen. Luz Robles
    
Staff Present:            Mark D. Andrews, Policy Analyst
                Cami Deavila, Committee Secretary

Public Speakers Present:    Leeann Whiffen, Citizen
                Clay Whiffen, Citizen
                Dr. Paul Carbone, Pediatrician, University of Utah
                Lorri Unumb, Policy Analyst, Autism Speaks
                Fraser Bullock, Managing Director, Sorenson Capital
                Andrew King, Citizen
                Tom Clay, Citizen
                Kelly Atkinson, Utah Health Insurance Association
                Jim Olsen, Utah Food Industry Association and Utah Retail Merchants Association
                Jeff Hartley, America's Health Insurance Plans
            
A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.

Sen. Buttars called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m.

1.    SB0043, Insurance Coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorders-Clay's Law (H. Stephenson)

     MOTION: Sen. Jones moved to amend S.B. 43, Insurance Coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorders-Clay's Law, as follows:

1.    Page 1, Lines 15 through 16 :    

             15          .    requires that
{   an accident or health insurance policy that provides a health insurance

             16      benefit  
}
  a health benefit plan       shall provide coverage for treatment of autism spectrum disorders;


2.    Page 3, Line 59 :    



             59          (2)
{   An accident or health insurance policy that provides a health insurance benefit   }        A health benefit plan       shall


3.    Page 3, Lines 65 through 71 :    

             65          (4) Subject to Subsection (5), the rules described in Subsection (3) shall
{   establish

             66      durational limits, amount limits, deductibles, and coinsurance for the treatment of autism
             67      spectrum disorders that are similar to, or identical to, the coverage provided for other illnesses
             68      or diseases  
}
  provide that all cost sharing provisions for the coverage described in Subsection (2), including dollar limits, deductibles, and coinsurance, are not less favorable to the insured than the cost sharing provisions that apply to physical illness generally       .

             69          (5) Subject to Subsection (6),
{   an accident or health insurance policy that provides a

             70      health insurance benefit  
}
  a health benefit plan       shall provide coverage for the provision of early intensive behavior

             71      therapy for a person with an autism spectrum disorder of at least:

    The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Robles absent for the vote.

    Sen. Stephenson introduced the bill.

    Ms. Whiffen, Mr. Whiffen, Dr. Carbone, Ms. Unumb, Mr. Bullock, Ms. Sedim, and Mr. King spoke for the bill. Mr. Clay, Mr. Atkinson, Mr. Olsen and Mr. Hartley spoke against the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Bell moved to continue discussion on S.B. 43, Insurance Coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorders-Clay's Law, at the next scheduled meeting.

    The motion failed with Sens. Bell and Hinkins voting aye and Sens. Buttars, Christensen, Jones, and Robles voting nay.

     MOTION: Sen. Christensen moved to table S.B. 43, Insurance Coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorders-Clay's Law.

    The motion failed with Sen. Christensen voting aye.

     MOTION: Sen. Christensen moved to pass S.B. 43, Insurance Coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorders-Clay's Law, out of committee with a favorable recommendation.


    
    The motion passed with Sen. Christensen voting nay.

    Sen. Buttars adjourned the meeting at 9:37 a.m.

    Minutes were reported by Cami Deavila, Secretary.



                    _______________________________________
                     D. Chris Buttars, Committee Chair