* This bulletin was repealed by 08-05

RESCINDED AND INOPERATIVE

To:           Health Insurers, Health Services Corporations And Health Maintenance Organizations

From:      Keith A. Wenzel, Director, Missouri Department of Insurance

Re:          Summary Of 1999 Missouri Legislation Impacting Health Plan Benefits

Date:       October 7, 1999

House Bill 191 Enacts Several Requirements for Health Carriers and Their Contracts

• This bill creates the Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Insurance Act. Statute sections 376.810 to 376.814, RSMo, which first became law in 1990, require insurers to offer specified benefits for mental illness. House Bill 191 continues to require this benefit offer, but after January 1, 2000, if this offer is rejected, the law will require any policy that provides benefits for mental illness to provide no less than the benefits set forth in 376.825 to 376.835, RSMo.
• House Bill 191 also mandates that group and individual contracts issued for delivery, continued or renewed in Missouri on or after August 28, 1999, must cover pelvic exams and pap smears as well as prostate and colorectal exams.
• After January 1, 2002, health insurance carriers must use standardized information for the explanation of benefits given to health care providers when a claim is paid or denied.
• After January 1, 2002, all health care providers and health carriers shall use standardized information for referrals.

House Bill 401 requires all health carriers to provide coverage for newborn hearing screening, necessary rescreening, audiological assessment and followups, and initial amplification. This mandated coverage applies to contracts issued, continued or renewed after January 1, 2002.

House Bills 316, 660 & 203 require health maintenance organizations and preferred provider organizations to cover services delivered to residents of long-term care facilities licensed pursuant to chapter 198, RSMo. This coverage is to be available under certain conditions whether or not the facility has a contract with the managed care organization.

House Bill 903 adds health maintenance organizations to the entities subject to sections 376.431 to 376.442, RSMo. These sections establish minimum standards for health carriers to provide notices of discontinuance, to extend benefits for disabled persons in the event of plan amendment or termination, and to define the liabilities of the prior and succeeding carrier when one plan replaces another.