Colorado Legislative Council Staff

NO FISCAL IMPACT



Drafting Number:

Prime Sponsor(s):

LLS 98-292

Rep. Lawrence

Date:

Bill Status: Fiscal Analyst:

February 8, 1998

House HEWI

Will Meyer (866-4976)

 

TITLE:            CONCERNING REQUIRED HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR MEDICAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF GENERAL ANESTHESIA FOR DENTAL PROCEDURES PERFORMED ON DEPENDENT CHILDREN.



Summary of Assessment


            The provisions of this bill would require all individual and all group sickness and accident insurance policies, and all individual and group health care service or indemnity contracts, to offer coverages for the administration of general anesthesia and associated hospital charges for dental care for children. Only children who satisfy the “Indications for General Anesthesia” guidelines provided by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry would be covered. The bill would allow carriers to require prior authorization and to restrict coverage. The bill would become effective September 1, 1998, or on the date of the official declaration of the vote of the people as proclaimed by the Governor, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to Article V, Section 1 (3) of the State Constitution.


            The provisions of the bill would require the Division of Insurance, Department of Regulatory Agencies, to process supplemental forms filed by carriers not currently providing this benefit. Given the effective date of the bill, the bill would have a minimal impact on the workload of the division. This increase in workload could be absorbed by re-prioritizing existing workload. The division indicates that by changing the implementation date to January 1, 1999, insurers could make the necessary changes in the normal course of their filings and have no impact on the division or the insurers themselves. The bill would not affect any other agency of the state, or unit of local government. Therefore, this bill is assessed as having no fiscal impact.



Departments Contacted


            Regulatory Agencies              Health Care Policy and Financing                  Personnel