Current Status Bill Number:1019 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:19960111 Primary Sponsor:McConnell All Sponsors:McConnell Drafted Document Number:jic\5123ac.96 Companion Bill Number:4381 Residing Body:Senate Subject:Dermatological services, health insurance
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________ Senate 19960314 Minority report withdrawn Senate 19960305 Committee report: majority 02 SBI favorable, minority unfavorable Senate 19960206 Committed to Committee 02 SBI Senate 19960206 Recalled from Committee 13 SMA Senate 19960111 Introduced, read first time, 13 SMA referred to CommitteeView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
COMMITTEE REPORT
March 5, 1996
S. 1019
S. Printed 3/5/96--S.
Read the first time January 11, 1996.
To whom was referred a Bill (S. 1019), to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 38-71-215 so as to prohibit a health benefit policy from requiring as a condition for the coverage, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:
Majority favorable. Minority unfavorable.
EDWARD E. SALEEBY LARRY A. MARTIN
For Majority. For Minority.
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 38-71-215 SO AS TO PROHIBIT A HEALTH BENEFIT POLICY FROM REQUIRING AS A CONDITION FOR THE COVERAGE OF DERMATOLOGICAL SERVICES THAT THE INSURED FIRST OBTAIN A REFERRAL FROM A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN.
Whereas, it is the intent of the General Assembly to encourage health care cost containment while preserving the quality of care offered to citizens of this State. The General Assembly finds that there is an increasing number of health insurance benefit providers which require a referral from a primary care physician to a dermatologist as a condition of the payment of benefits to an insured patient. The General Assembly finds that such a requirement blocks unfairly a patient's choice of direct access to providers of health care services and may not be in the public interest. Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 38-71-215. (A) No health policy which is issued, delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this State may require as a condition for the coverage of dermatological services that an enrollee, subscriber, or insured first obtain a referral from a primary care physician.
(B) As used in this section:
(1) `Dermatological services' means services ordinarily and customarily rendered by a physician specializing in the practice of dermatology;
(2) `Health benefit policy' means an individual or group plan, policy, or contract for health care services issued, delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this State by a health care corporation, health maintenance organization, accident and sickness insurer, fraternal benefit society, nonprofit hospital service corporation, nonprofit medical service corporation, or similar entity;
(3) `Primary care physician' means a physician as defined in the health benefit policy."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 1996, and applies to health benefit policies as defined in Section 38-71-215 of the 1976 Code, as added by Section 1 of this act, that are issued, delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this State after July 1, 1996.