http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills info@washingtonwatch.com http://www.pjdoland.com/chai/?v=0.1 http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/110_HR_5615.html?rev=24371 <p>H.R. 5615 would provide parity under group health plans and group health insurance coverage in the provision of benefits for prosthetic devices and components and benefits for other medical and surgical services.</p> <h2 id="toc0"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>Group Health Plan Prosthetics Parity Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to require a group health plan that provides both medical and surgical benefits and benefits for prosthetic devices and components to provide prosthetics coverage under terms and conditions that are no less favorable than those applicable to substantially all medical and surgical benefits provided under the plan.</p> <p>Prohibits the prosthetics benefit from being subject to separate or more restrictive financial requirements or more restrictive treatment limitations.</p> <p>Applies the requirements of this Act separately with respect to in-network and out-of-network benefits.</p> <p>Requires a group health plan to apply the same prior authorization requirements to the prosthetics benefit as apply for all similar benefits under the plan.</p> <p>Limits the required prosthetics benefit to the most appropriate model that adequately meets the medical requirements of the patient. Includes repair or replacement of prosthetic devices and components within such coverage.</p> <p>Prohibits a group health plan from imposing any annual or lifetime dollar limitation on the prosthetics benefit that is not applied in the aggregate to all medical and surgical benefits provided under the plan.</p> <p>Requires the Secretary of Labor to: (1) assist participants and beneficiaries with any questions or problems regarding compliance with the requirements of this Act; and (2) conduct random audits of group health plans to ensure compliance.</p> <p>Requires the Comptroller General to evaluate the effects of this Act, including on the cost of and access to heath insurance coverage.</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc1"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 3/13/2008: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc2"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc3"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 24371@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 21 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5615.html#34222 I understand how the Group Health Plan Prosthetics Parity Act of 2007 - HR 5615 IH will help support the prosthetics industry, and provide prostheses to amputees whom otherwise would not be able to obtain them. The act however does not address the quality of care received, by whom (prosthetics is an unregulated industry in the majority of states), standards, or disclosure to the amputee about these services. Without addressing these points the proposed legislation would impact insurance companies negatively causing an increase in costs, and open the possibility of further injury to amputees increasing costs even further.... 34222@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5615.html#34042 When is HR 5615 up for vote?... 34042@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/110_HR_5615.html?rev=20707 <p>H.R. 5615 would provide parity under group health plans and group health insurance coverage in the provision of benefits for prosthetic devices and components and benefits for other medical and surgical services.</p> <h2 id="toc4"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc5"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to update the status of the bill!)</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc6"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc7"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 20707@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/110_HR_5615.html?rev=20708 <p>H.R. 5615 would provide parity under group health plans and group health insurance coverage in the provision of benefits for prosthetic devices and components and benefits for other medical and surgical services.</p> <h2 id="toc8"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc9"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 3/13/2008: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc10"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc11"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 20708@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5615.html 3/13/2008: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor. 34005@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT