Bill

SB 747

86(R) - 2019
Senate Business & Commerce
House Insurance
Senate Business & Commerce
House Insurance

Vote Recommendation

No
  • Negative
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Negative
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Lois Kolkhorst

Co-Author(s)

Judith Zaffirini

Sponsor(s)

Eddie Lucio III

Bill Caption

Relating to required notice of the cost and health benefit plan coverage of newborn screening tests.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated

Bill Analysis

SB 747 would require the Department of State Health Services to post the cost of newborn screening tests on its website and provide a 90-day notification before prices change. The bill also prohibits a health maintenance organization (HMO) that provides maternity benefits or accident and health coverage for additional newborn children from excluding or limiting coverage for newborn screenings.

Vote Recommendation Notes

SB 747 is out of alignment with limited government and free market principles. We oppose additional government mandates on insurance providers. Insurance providers are far too burdened by government regulation, particularly in the form of insurance mandates, which is a significant part of the reason health insurance is so costly. For these reasons we oppose SB 747.