85R1704 MEW-D
By: Anderson of McLennan, Howard, H.B. No. 831
Davis of Harris, Thompson of Harris, Vo
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to coverage for treatment of craniofacial abnormalities
under certain health benefit plans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 1367, Insurance Code, is
amended by adding Section 1367.1535 to read as follows:
Sec. 1367.1535. COVERAGE FOR TREATMENT OF CRANIOFACIAL
ABNORMALITIES. A health benefit plan described by Section 1367.153
that provides coverage for reconstructive surgery for craniofacial
abnormalities, as defined in accordance with that section, must
provide coverage for the treatment of the primary conditions
constituting craniofacial abnormalities and secondary conditions
related to or arising from craniofacial abnormalities, including:
(1) oral and facial surgery, surgical management, and
follow-up care;
(2) prosthetic treatments, including obturators and
speech and feeding appliances;
(3) orthodontic treatment and management;
(4) preventive and restorative dentistry to ensure
good health and adequate dental structures for orthodontic
treatment or prosthetic management or therapy;
(5) speech-language pathology services, including
evaluation and therapy;
(6) audiological assessments and amplification
devices;
(7) otolaryngological treatment and management;
(8) psychological assessment and counseling; and
(9) genetic assessment counseling for the parents and
child.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a health benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or
renewed on or after January 1, 2018. A plan delivered, issued for
delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2018, is governed by the law
as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, and
that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.