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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