HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1769

BYRepresentatives Appelwick, Jacobsen and Brekke

Requiring that medical insurance cover the food supplements necessary for the treatment of phenylketonuria.

House Committe on Financial Institutions & Insurance

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (14)

      Signed by Representatives Lux, Chair; Zellinsky, Vice Chair; Anderson, Betrozoff, Chandler, Crane, Day, Dellwo, Dorn, Ferguson, P. King, Nutley, Silver and Winsley.

House Staff:John Conniff (786-7119)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS & INSURANCE

FEBRUARY 3, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Insurers are not required to provide coverage for the food supplements required in the treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU), an inherited disorder fround in newborn children which prevents them from metabolizing an essential amino acid.  If untreated, PKU children suffer severe mental and physical difficulties.

By taking a vitamin-enriched formula available without a doctor's prescription, the effects of PKU can be eliminated.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  Subject to exceptions and requirements of the Insurance Commissioner, individual and group disability insurance policies, health care services contracts and health maintenance agreements issued or renewed on or after September 1, 1988, must provide coverage for the food supplements necessary for the treatment of PKU.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Technical corrections are made; the Commissioner is authorized to make exceptions; and the effective date is changed.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on September 1, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Sean Corry, Father of PKU child; Janet Garretson, PKU Clinic, University of Washington; H.C. Thuline, M.D., DSHS and Anne Simons, Assembly of Developmental Disabled.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Most health care benefit policies and contracts provide coverage for treatment of PKU.  However, some policies and contracts do not provide coverage or provide limited coverage.  Without coverage, families cannot afford the expensive food supplements necessary to treat PKU. Without treatment children suffering from PKU will experience physical and mental disabilities.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.