Bill > S3069

This bill mandates that various types of health insurance plans, including those offered by the state's group insurance commission, private insurers, hospital service plans, medical service agreements, health maintenance organizations, and preferred provider organizations, must cover the cost of "medically necessary food" for children under 18 who have a "food protein allergy." "Medically necessary food" refers to specially formulated products like low-protein modified foods, amino acid preparations, modified fat preparations, or nutritional formulas prescribed by a healthcare professional for the dietary management of a food protein allergy, which is defined broadly to include various IgE and non-IgE mediated allergies and eosinophilic disorders. This coverage cannot be used to increase a patient's out-of-pocket costs, and insurers cannot require a referral from a primary care provider for specialty care related to this food, nor can they classify this food coverage as "durable medical equipment." The division of insurance is required to create rules and regulations to implement and enforce these provisions within six months of the bill's enactment.