New Jersey Assembly Bill A730

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/11/22
• Refer: 1/11/22

Caption

Requires health insurers to cover Lyme disease.

Impact

The introduction of A730 is significant, as it supplements existing statutes related to health insurance and sets new requirements for coverage that could improve the standard of care for patients suffering from Lyme disease. By prohibiting insurers from denying coverage based on treatment classification, the bill seeks to enhance treatment accessibility for this condition, which has been a contentious issue in the realm of healthcare policy. This change may lead to broader implications for how health insurers structure treatment coverage for other illnesses that might also be categorized as experimental.

Summary

Assembly Bill A730 requires health insurers operating in the state of New Jersey to provide coverage for the treatment of Lyme disease. The bill mandates that hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and commercial insurers must offer benefits for expenses incurred due to the treatment of Lyme disease, which must be determined as medically necessary by the covered person's physician. This bill aims to ensure that individuals affected by Lyme disease can access necessary treatment without facing coverage denials based on the characterization of such treatments as experimental or investigational.

Contention

Notably, the bill could generate debate among stakeholders, particularly from insurance providers who may argue about the potential increase in costs associated with mandated coverage for Lyme disease treatments. The concern is that this requirement could lead to higher premiums for consumers as insurers adjust to incorporate new requirements that may increase their claims expenditure. Supporters of the bill, however, argue that ensuring comprehensive coverage for Lyme disease treatment is a necessary step toward addressing a public health concern that has been inadequately addressed in the past.