State Senator Joseph J. Crisco, Jr.
May 19, 2009
Senate Approves Bill Introduced by Senator Crisco That Calls for Bone Morrow Transplant Testing
The Senate has approved a bill introduced by Senator Joseph Crisco (D-Woodbridge), the co-chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee that requires health insurance coverage for testing to determine the compatibility for bone marrow transplants. Bone marrow transplants have been used to treat patients suffering from leukemia and other life-threatening diseases.
S.B. 290 An Act Concerning Health Insurance Coverage for Bone Marrow Testing requires certain health insurance policies to provide coverage for human leukocyte antigen testing, which determines compatibility for bone marrow transplants. It permits a policy to limit coverage to one covered test in a person’s lifetime.
The bill prohibits a policy, except for a high-deductible policy, from imposing a coinsurance, copayment, deductible, or other out of pocket expenses for the testing that exceeds 20 percent of the cost for testing per year.
“Every state around Connecticut, including New York, all provide coverage for bone marrow testing. This is an important health care issue and we should make sure coverage is provided for the residents in our state,” said Senator Crisco. “What is so crucial about this legislation is that the next bone marrow transplant may be the cure for a particular illness, and perhaps with this bill, when people are covered in Connecticut the next bone marrow transplant testing could be the key to curing a terrible disease.”
The bill will now be considered by the House of Representatives.
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Senator Crisco’s |
Listing of Senator Crisco’s recent press releases and a Press Kit with official head shots and bio. |
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