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OLR Bill Analysis
SB 1008
AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTH EQUITY, THE CORONAVIRUS
PANDEMIC AND PULSE OXIMETERS.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the insurance commissioner, in consultation with
the public health commissioner, to adopt regulations to ensure that:
1. health care providers, insurers and other health carriers,
pharmacists, pharmacies, and pharmacy benefits managers are
informed that a pulse oximeter (see BACKGROUND) is more
likely to produce an inaccurate blood oxygen level reading for
individuals of color as opposed to white individuals;
2. insured persons who receive a covered pulse oximeter are
informed that it is more likely to produce an inaccurate reading
on individuals of color than on white individuals; and
3. insured persons are informed that if they receive an inaccurate
reading from such a device, they may be deprived of medically
necessary health care services due to the inaccurate reading.
The bill also prohibits certain insurers and others providing health
insurance from denying coverage for an otherwise covered benefit if
the denial is exclusively based on the insured’s blood oxygen level as
measured by a pulse oximeter.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021, for the regulation provision;
January 1, 2022, for the insurance coverage provision.
BAN ON CERTAIN COVER AGE DENIALS
The bill’s insurance coverage provision applies to individual or
group health insurance policies delivered, issued, renewed, amended,
or continued in Connecticut on or after January 1, 2022, that cover (1) 2021SB-01008-R000365-BA.DOCX
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basic hospital expenses; (2) basic medical-surgical expenses; (3) major
medical expenses; or (4) hospital or medical services, including those
provided under an HMO plan. The bill applies to insurers, HMOs,
hospital or medical service corporations, fraternal benefit societies, or
other entities providing such coverage. Because of the federal
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), state insurance
benefit mandates do not apply to self-insured benefit plans.
BACKGROUND
Pulse Oximeters
Pulse oximeters are electronic devices that estimate the percentage
of oxygen in a person’s blood. They are typically placed on a finger.
There are both prescription and over-the-counter pulse oximeters.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Insurance and Real Estate Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 18 Nay 0 (03/22/2021)