PODIATRIST: CONTINUATION OF CARE - H.B. 5958 & 5959 (H-1): COMMITTEE SUMMARY


House Bill 5958 (as passed by the House)

House Bill 5959 (Substitute H-1 as passed by the House)

Sponsor: Representative Gerald Law

House Committee: Health Policy

Senate Committee: Health Policy


Date Completed: 11-13-00


CONTENT


House Bill 5958 would amend the Nonprofit Health Care Corporation Reform Act, which regulates Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM), and House Bill 5959 (H-1) would amend the Insurance Code, to include care provided by a podiatric physician in the Act's and the Code's requirements regarding continuation of care.


Currently, under the Act and the Code, if participation between an insured person's current physician and BCBSM or a private health care insurer terminates, BCBSM or the insurer must allow the insured to continue an ongoing course of treatment with that physician for 90 days; through postpartum care if the insured is in her second or third trimester of pregnancy; or for the remainder of the insured's life for care directly related to the treatment of a terminal illness. Under both the Act and the Code, "physician" is defined as an allopathic or osteopathic physician. The bills would include "podiatric physician" in the definition.


House Bill 5959 (H-1) also specifies that the Code's requirements regarding continuation of care would apply to a health maintenance organization contract.


MCL 550.1402c (H.B. 5958) - Legislative Analyst: G. Towne

500.2212b (H.B. 5959)


FISCAL IMPACT


Existing statutes (Public Acts 228 and 230 of 1999) already allow patients to receive continuing services from physicians who terminate their relationship with a health care plan in which the patients are enrolled. As there are specific requirements related to the coverage period and payment rates, these Acts were determined to have no fiscal impact. Amending these Acts to include podiatrists under the definition of "physician" should have no fiscal impact on the affected parties.


- Fiscal Analyst: J. WalkerS9900\s5958sa

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.