HB6064 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 17110 RPM 32434 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB6064

Introduced 2/11/2010, by Rep. Sara Feigenholtz

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

215 ILCS 5/356z.19 new

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code to provide that accident and health insurance policies and managed care plans must provide coverage for medically necessary foods, low protein foods, and pharmacological doses of vitamins and amino acids and the medical equipment and supplies necessary to administer the foods for the treatment of inborn errors of metabolism when the prescribing physician has issued a written order stating that the medically necessary foods are necessary for the treatment of a disease or disorder. Provides that "medically necessary foods" means foods that are formulated to be consumed or administered under the supervision of a qualified medical provider.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning insurance.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Insurance Code is amended by adding Section 356z.19 as follows:

(215 ILCS 5/356z.19 new)

Sec. 356z.19. Medically necessary foods.

(a) The General Assembly finds that, because there is no cure for disorders of inborn errors of metabolism, treatment of affected individuals is required throughout their lifespan.

(b) A group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or managed care plan amended, delivered, issued, or renewed after the effective date of this amendatory Act must provide coverage for medically necessary foods, low protein foods, and pharmacological doses of vitamins and amino acids and the medical equipment and supplies necessary to administer the foods for the treatment of inborn errors of metabolism. Coverage must be provided when the prescribing physician has issued a written order stating that the medically necessary food is necessary for the treatment of a disease or disorder.

"Medically necessary foods" means foods, available in all forms, that are formulated to be consumed or administered under the supervision of a qualified medical provider and include nutritionally modified low protein counterparts of traditional foods that are intended for the specific dietary management of a disease or condition for which distinctive nutritional requirements, based on recognized scientific principles, are established by medical evaluation.