HEALTH CARE COST CONTAINMENT COUNCIL Mandated Benefits [30 Pa.B. 832] Section 9 of Act 34 of 1993 requires that the Health Care Cost Containment Council review existing or proposed mandated health benefits on request of the executive and legislative branches of government. The Council has been requested by Senator Edwin G. Holl, Chairperson of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, to review Senate Bill 1094, Printers Number 1330 (Schwartz), the Prescription Contraception Equity Act. Senate Bill 1094 would require health insurance policies that provide coverage for prescription drugs and devices to provide coverage for prescription contraceptive drugs and devices approved by the FDA and to provide coverage for outpatient medical or counseling services necessary for the effective use of contraception if the policy provides coverage for other outpatient medical or counseling services.
Initial notification of request for information and documentation was published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on November 20, 1999, with documentation due to the Council by January 20, 2000.
Following is a list of the documentation received. This information is available for public review and comment at the Council offices during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) until March 13, 2000. Any additional comments on this information must be received by this time. Council offices are located at: 225 Market Street, Suite 400, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Send comments (six copies) to Flossie Wolf at this address.
Senate Bill 1094 Submissions 1. AFLAC--American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Richard J. Gmerek of the Law Office of Gmerek & Hayden, P.C.)
* Statement addressing Senate Bill 1094 and requesting exemptions for certain supplemental policies
2. The Alan Guttmacher Institute (Jacqueline E. Darroch, PHD, Vice President for Research)
* Letter addressing Section 9 requirements and supporting SB 1094
* Attachments addressing insurance costs and social issues surrounding coverage for contraceptives
3. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (Peter A. Schwartz, MD, Chairperson of the Pennsylvania Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)
* Letter addressing Section 9 requirements and supporting SB 1094
* Attachments addressing insurance costs and social issues surrounding coverage for contraceptives
4. Bethlehem Steel Corporation (Dorothy L. Stephenson, Vice President, Human Resources)
* Letter opposing Senate Bill 1094
5. Capital Blue Cross (Vincent P. Carocci, Director of Government Affairs)
* Letter addressing Section 9 requirements and opposing Senate Bill 1094
6. Family Health Council, Inc. (Maureen Vesely, JD, Public Affairs Coordinator)
* Letter addressing Section 9 requirements and supporting SB 1094
7. Highmark (Bruce R. Hironimus, Vice President, Government Affairs)
* Statement addressing Section 9 requirements and opposing Senate Bill 1094
* Attachments addressing costs, effectiveness, and social issues surrounding coverage for contraceptives
8. The Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania (John R. Doubman, Secretary & Counsel)
* Letter addressing Section 9 requirements and opposing Senate Bill 1094
* Attachment addressing cost of mandates
9. The Managed Care Association of Pennsylvania (Kimberly J. Kockler, Executive Director)
* Letter addressing Section 9 requirements and opposing Senate Bill 1094
* Attachment addressing cost and other issues surrounding mandates
10. National Federation of Independent Business
* Letter opposing Senate Bill 1094
11. Pennsylvania Catholic Health Association (Sister Clare Christi Schiefer, OSF, President)
* Letter opposing Senate Bill 1094
12. Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry
* Letter opposing Senate Bill 1094
13. Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania, Inc. (Jodi Hirsh, Public Affairs Coordinator)
* Letter addressing Section 9 requirements and supporting SB 1094
* Attachments addressing insurance costs and social issues surrounding coverage for contraceptives
14. Planned Parenthood (Nancy J. Osgood, Acting Executive Director)
* Statement addressing Section 9 requirements and supporting Senate Bill 1094
15. Women's Law Project (Tara S. Crean, Esq., Susan Frietsche, Esq. and Terry L. Fromson, Esq.)
* Statement addressing Section 9 requirements and supporting Senate Bill 1094
MARC P. VOLAVKA,
Executive Director[Pa.B. Doc. No. 00-261. Filed for public inspection February 11, 2000, 9:00 a.m.]
