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1997 SESSION


CHAPTER 43
An Act to amend and reenact § 2.1-20.1 of the Code of Virginia, as it is currently effective and as it may become effective, relating to health and related insurance for state employees.
[H 2613]
Approved March 2, 1997

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 2.1-20.1 of the Code of Virginia, as it is currently effective and as it may become effective, is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 2.1-20.1. Health and related insurance for state employees.

A. 1. The Governor shall establish a plan for providing health insurance coverage, including chiropractic treatment, hospitalization, medical, surgical and major medical coverage, for state employees and retired state employees with the Commonwealth paying the cost thereof to the extent of the coverage included in such plan. The Department of Personnel and Training shall administer this section. The plan chosen shall provide means whereby coverage for the families or dependents of state employees may be purchased. The Commonwealth may pay all or a portion of the cost thereof, and for such portion as the Commonwealth does not pay, the employee may purchase the coverage by paying the additional cost over the cost of coverage for an employee.

2. Such contribution shall be financed through appropriations provided by law.

B. 1. The plan shall include:

1. Coverage for low-dose screening mammograms for determining the presence of occult breast cancer. Such coverage shall make available one screening mammogram to persons age thirty-five through thirty-nine, one such mammogram biennially to persons age forty through forty-nine, one such mammogram annually to persons age fifty and over and may be limited to a benefit of fifty dollars per mammogram subject to such dollar limits, deductibles, and coinsurance factors as are no less favorable than for physical illness generally. The term "mammogram" shall mean an X-ray examination of the breast using equipment dedicated specifically for mammography, including but not limited to the X-ray tube, filter, compression device, screens, film, and cassettes, with an average radiation exposure of less than one rad mid-breast, two views of each breast.

2. The plan shall include Coverage for the treatment of breast cancer by dose-intensive chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow transplants or stem cell support when performed at a clinical program authorized to provide such therapies as a part of clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. For persons previously covered under the plan, there shall be no denial of coverage due to the existence of a preexisting condition.

3. The plan shall include Coverage for postpartum services providing inpatient care and a home visit or visits which shall be in accordance with the medical criteria, outlined in the most current version of or an official update to the "Guidelines for Perinatal Care" prepared by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or the "Standards for Obstetric-Gynecologic Services" prepared by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Such coverage shall be provided incorporating any changes in such Guidelines or Standards within six months of the publication of such Guidelines or Standards or any official amendment thereto.

4. An appeals process for resolution of written complaints concerning denials or partial denials of claims that shall provide reasonable procedures for resolution of such written complaints and shall be published and disseminated to all covered state employees. Such appeals process shall include a separate expedited emergency appeals procedure which shall provide resolution within one business day of receipt of a complaint concerning situations requiring immediate medical care.

C. Claims incurred during a fiscal year but not reported during that fiscal year shall be paid from such funds as shall be appropriated by law. Appropriations, premiums and other payments shall be deposited in the employee health insurance fund, from which payments for claims, premiums, cost containment programs and administrative expenses shall be withdrawn from time to time. The assets of the fund shall be held for the sole benefit of the employee health insurance program. The fund shall be held in the state treasury. Any interest on unused balances in the fund shall revert back to the credit of the fund.

D. For the purposes of this section, the term "state employee" means state employee as defined in § 51.1-124.3, employee as defined in § 51.1-201, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General, judge as defined in § 51.1-301 and judges, clerks and deputy clerks of regional juvenile and domestic relations, county juvenile and domestic relations, and district courts of the Commonwealth, interns and residents employed by the School of Medicine and Hospital of the University of Virginia, and interns, residents, and employees of the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals Authority as provided in § 23-50.16:24.

E. Provisions shall be made for retired employees to obtain coverage under the above plan. The Commonwealth may, but shall not be obligated to, pay all or any portion of the cost thereof.

F. Any self-insured group health insurance plan established by the Department of Personnel and Training which utilizes a network of preferred providers shall not exclude any physician solely on the basis of a reprimand or censure from the Board of Medicine, so long as the physician otherwise meets the plan criteria established by the Department.

§ 2.1-20.1. (Delayed effective date) Health and related insurance for state employees.

A. 1. The Governor shall establish a plan for providing health insurance coverage, including chiropractic treatment, hospitalization, medical, surgical and major medical coverage, for state employees and retired state employees with the Commonwealth paying the cost thereof to the extent of the coverage included in such plan. The Department of Personnel and Training shall administer this section. The plan chosen shall provide means whereby coverage for the families or dependents of state employees may be purchased. The Commonwealth may pay all or a portion of the cost thereof, and for such portion as the Commonwealth does not pay, the employee may purchase the coverage by paying the additional cost over the cost of coverage for an employee.

2. Such contribution shall be financed through appropriations provided by law.

B. 1. The plan shall include:

1. Coverage for low-dose screening mammograms for determining the presence of occult breast cancer. Such coverage shall make available one screening mammogram to persons age thirty-five through thirty-nine, one such mammogram biennially to persons age forty through forty-nine, one such mammogram annually to persons age fifty and over and may be limited to a benefit of fifty dollars per mammogram subject to such dollar limits, deductibles, and coinsurance factors as are no less favorable than for physical illness generally. The term "mammogram" shall mean an X-ray examination of the breast using equipment dedicated specifically for mammography, including but not limited to the X-ray tube, filter, compression device, screens, film, and cassettes, with an average radiation exposure of less than one rad mid-breast, two views of each breast.

2. The plan shall include Coverage for the treatment of breast cancer by dose-intensive chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow transplants or stem cell support when performed at a clinical program authorized to provide such therapies as a part of clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. For persons previously covered under the plan, there shall be no denial of coverage due to the existence of a preexisting condition.

3. The plan shall include Coverage for postpartum services providing inpatient care and a home visit or visits which shall be in accordance with the medical criteria, outlined in the most current version of or an official update to the "Guidelines for Perinatal Care" prepared by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or the "Standards for Obstetric-Gynecologic Services" prepared by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Such coverage shall be provided incorporating any changes in such Guidelines or Standards within six months of the publication of such Guidelines or Standards or any official amendment thereto.

4. An appeals process for resolution of written complaints concerning denials or partial denials of claims that shall provide reasonable procedures for resolution of such written complaints and shall be published and disseminated to all covered state employees. Such appeals process shall include a separate expedited emergency appeals procedure which shall provide resolution within one business day of receipt of a complaint concerning situations requiring immediate medical care.

C. Claims incurred during a fiscal year but not reported during that fiscal year shall be paid from such funds as shall be appropriated by law. Appropriations, premiums and other payments shall be deposited in the employee health insurance fund, from which payments for claims, premiums, cost containment programs and administrative expenses shall be withdrawn from time to time. The assets of the fund shall be held for the sole benefit of the employee health insurance program. The fund shall be held in the state treasury. Any interest on unused balances in the fund shall revert back to the credit of the fund.

D. For the purposes of this section, the term "state employee" means state employee as defined in § 51.1-124.3, employee as defined in § 51.1-201, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General, judge as defined in § 51.1-301 and judges, clerks and deputy clerks of district courts of the Commonwealth, interns and residents employed by the School of Medicine and Hospital of the University of Virginia, and interns, residents, and employees of the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals Authority as provided in § 23-50.15:25.

E. Provisions shall be made for retired employees to obtain coverage under the above plan. The Commonwealth may, but shall not be obligated to, pay all or any portion of the cost thereof.

F. Any self-insured group health insurance plan established by the Department of Personnel and Training which utilizes a network of preferred providers shall not exclude any physician solely on the basis of a reprimand or censure from the Board of Medicine, so long as the physician otherwise meets the plan criteria established by the Department.