H-4362              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1769

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Representatives Appelwick, Jacobsen and Brekke

Read first time 1/25/88 and referred to Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance.

AN ACT Relating to insurance and health care services; adding a new section to chapter 48.20 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.44 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 48.46 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 48.20 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The legislature finds that:

          (a) Phenylketonuria is a rare inherited genetic disorder.

          (b) Children with phenylketonuria are unable to metabolize an essential amino acid, phenylalanine, which is found in the proteins of most food.

          (c) To remain healthy, children with phenylketonuria must maintain a strict diet and ingest a mineral and vitamin-enriched formula.

          (d) Children who do not maintain their diets with the formula acquire severe mental and physical difficulties.

          (e) Originally, the formulas were listed as prescription drugs but were reclassified as medical foods to increase their availability.

          (2) Any disability insurance contract delivered or issued for delivery or renewed in this state on or after July 1, 1988, that insures for hospital or medical expenses shall provide coverage for the food supplements necessary for the treatment of phenylketonuria.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 48.21 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The legislature finds that:

          (a) Phenylketonuria is a rare inherited genetic disorder.

          (b) Children with phenylketonuria are unable to metabolize an essential amino acid, phenylalanine, which is found in the proteins of most food.

          (c) To remain healthy, children with phenylketonuria must maintain a strict diet and ingest a mineral and vitamin-enriched formula.

          (d) Children who do not maintain their diets with the formula acquire severe mental and physical difficulties.

          (e) Originally, the formulas were listed as prescription drugs but were reclassified as medical foods to increase their availability.

          (2) Any group disability insurance contract delivered or issued for delivery or renewed in this state on or after July 1, 1988, that insures for hospital or medical expenses shall provide coverage for the food supplements necessary for the treatment of phenylketonuria.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 48.44 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The legislature finds that:

          (a) Phenylketonuria is a rare inherited genetic disorder.

          (b) Children with phenylketonuria are unable to metabolize an essential amino acid, phenylalanine, which is found in the proteins of most food.

          (c) To remain healthy, children with phenylketonuria must maintain a strict diet and ingest a mineral and vitamin-enriched formula.

          (d) Children who do not maintain their diets with the formula acquire severe mental and physical difficulties.

          (e) Originally, the formulas were listed as prescription drugs but were reclassified as medical foods to increase their availability.

          (2) Any group contract for health care services delivered or issued for delivery or renewed in this state on or after July 1, 1988, shall provide coverage for the food supplements necessary for the treatment of phenylketonuria.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 48.46 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The legislature finds that:

          (a) Phenylketonuria is a rare inherited genetic disorder.

          (b) Children with phenylketonuria are unable to metabolize an essential amino acid, phenylalanine, which is found in the proteins of most food.

          (c) To remain healthy, children with phenylketonuria must maintain a strict diet and ingest a mineral and vitamin-enriched formula.

          (d) Children who do not maintain their diets with the formula acquire severe mental and physical difficulties.

          (e) Originally, the formulas were listed as prescription drugs but were reclassified as medical foods to increase their availability.

          (2) Any group agreement for health care services delivered or issued for delivery or renewed in this state on or after July 1, 1988, shall provide coverage for the food supplements necessary for the treatment of phenylketonuria.