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Bill > HB672

PA HB672

PA HB672
In casualty insurance, providing for coverage of allergenic protein dietary supplements.

summary

Introduced
02/20/2025
In Committee
02/20/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), entitled "An act relating to insurance; amending, revising, and consolidating the law providing for the incorporation of insurance companies, and the regulation, supervision, and protection of home and foreign insurance companies, Lloyds associations, reciprocal and inter-insurance exchanges, and fire insurance rating bureaus, and the regulation and supervision of insurance carried by such companies, associations, and exchanges, including insurance carried by the State Workmen's Insurance Fund; providing penalties; and repealing existing laws," in casualty insurance, providing for coverage of allergenic protein dietary supplements. The General Assembly finds and declares as follows: (1) It is estimated that approximately 8% of children in the United States have food allergies. (2) Studies have found that approximately 38.7% of food- allergic children had a history of severe food-induced reactions. (3) Non-Hispanic Black children have two times the number of food-induced anaphylaxis and food allergy-related emergency department visits than non-Hispanic white children. (4) The 2019 Economic Burden of Food Allergy: A Systemic Review found annual mean individual-level direct medical costs of a food allergy of $2,081, with mean individual-level out-of-pocket costs of $1,874. (5) In 2021, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the Canadian Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology released joint guidance recommending that at approximately six months of age, infants should be introduced to both peanut and egg products. (6) Introducing peanut and egg protein into infant diets is a cost-effective way to reduce the number of people with food allergies. (7) Reducing the number of people with food allergies will save lives, reduce health disparities and reduce medical costs to individuals and all residents of this Commonwealth.

AI Summary

This bill mandates that health insurance providers in Pennsylvania cover early egg and peanut allergen introduction dietary supplements for infants under one year old, at no additional cost to the insured. The legislation is motivated by research showing the prevalence of food allergies, the potential health and economic benefits of early allergen introduction, and disparities in food allergy experiences among different populations. Specifically, the bill requires insurers to cover dietary supplements prescribed by healthcare practitioners that contain infant-safe egg or peanut protein designed to reduce the risk of food allergies. The coverage must be provided without additional cost-sharing, though insurers can still impose standard policy cost-sharing mechanisms. The bill defines key terms like "dietary supplement," "health care practitioner," and "infant," and excludes certain types of insurance policies from this requirement, such as accident-only, dental, or vision policies. The legislation will apply to health insurance policies offered, issued, or renewed 60 days after its effective date, with the broader goal of potentially reducing food allergies, healthcare costs, and health disparities.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry

Sponsors (11)

Last Action

Referred to Insurance (on 02/20/2025)

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