HB 96, HCA 1 -- HOSPITAL STAYS FOR MASTECTOMIES AND
RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY

CO-SPONSORS:  Barry, Kennedy, Dougherty

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Public
Health by a vote of 12 to 0.

This bill requires health insurance plans with mastectomy
coverage to provide coverage for a minimum 48-hour in-patient
hospital stay following a mastectomy and a minimum 72-hour in--
patient hospital stay following an immediate or concurrent
reconstructive surgery.

Supplemental insurance policies, life care contracts, accident
only policies, specified disease policies, hospital policies
providing a fixed daily benefit, Medicare supplement policies,
and long-term policies are excluded from the provisions of this
bill.

HCA 1 -- States that the attending physician can recommend to
the breast cancer patient the minimum 48-hour inpatient hospital
stay following a mastectomy or the minimum 72-hour in-patient
hospital stay following an immediate or concurrent
reconstructive surgery.  Health insurance plans with mastectomy
coverage are not allowed to require that mastectomies and
immediate or concurrent reconstructive surgeries be performed on
an out-patient basis as a condition for coverage.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Cost to All Funds of $23,962 in FY
2000, $30,480 in FY 2001, and $32,310 in FY 2002.  Estimated Net
Increase to Insurance Dedicated Fund of $14,450 to $28,900 in FY
2000, $0 in FY 2001, and $0 in FY 2002.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that this bill would result in the
practice of "good medicine" by reducing the psychological stress
experienced by women diagnosed and treated for breast cancer who
currently face shorter in-patient hospital stays following a
mastectomy.  Currently, insurance companies require
certification for breast cancer patients needing an additional
in-patient hospital stay following a mastectomy.  The bill would
also allow for longer in-patient hospital monitoring for breast
cancer patients experiencing side effects from the surgery and
related treatments.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Barry; Missouri
State Medical Association; Lois Fehlbaum; Vicki Stewart;
American Cancer Society; American Association of Retired
Persons; Missouri Nurses Association; Mary Wadich; Mary Ellen
Barnett; Missouri Association of Health Plans; Associated
Industries of Missouri; Joyce Dorssom; Melinda McMahan; Janet
West; Ames Stewart; and Western Medical Center.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Joseph Deering, Legislative Analyst

HB 96 -- Hospital Stays for Mastectomies and Reconstructive
Surgery

Co-Sponsors:  Barry, Kennedy

This bill requires health insurance plans with mastectomy
coverage to provide coverage for a minimum 48-hour in-patient
hospital stay following a mastectomy and a minimum 72-hour in--
patient hospital stay following an immediate or concurrent
reconstructive surgery.