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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR:	Stewart		DATE TYPED:	01/27/02		HB	HJM 32
SHORT TITLE:		Review Insurance Contraceptive Coverage				SB
					ANALYST:		Wilson

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

FY02

FY03

NFI

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Health Policy Commission (HPC)

Public Regulation Commission (PRC)

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)l

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Joint Memorial 32 requests the superintendent of insurance to review the insurance industry’s compliance with requirements to offer coverage for prescription contraceptive drugs or devices and to ascertain the number of religious entities that have elected to exclude that coverage from their policies as allowed by law. The superintendent is requested to report his findings and recommendations, if any, during the 2002 interim to an interim committee of the legislature that considers criminal and civil issues.

Significant Issue

The HPC notes that existing law requires that health insurance providers offer a prescription drug benefit to include contraceptive drugs and devices, but allows religious entities to exclude such coverage. There is, however, little or no information to determine compliance to the statute or the number of health insurance purchasers who have excluded that coverage.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The PRC says that the cost of conducting the survey could be handled within the existing budget.

DW/ar