SENATE BILL No. 896

 

 

December 11, 2003, Introduced by Senators HARDIMAN, STAMAS, KUIPERS, BARCIA, ALLEN, BISHOP and BROWN and referred to the Committee on Health Policy.

 

 

        

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to amend 1956 PA 218, entitled                                             

                                                                                

    "The insurance code of 1956,"                                               

                                                                                

    (MCL 500.100 to 500.8302) by adding section 3406r.                          

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

1       Sec. 3406r.  (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law,                

                                                                                

2   a health maintenance organization and a health insurer may refuse           

                                                                                

3   to offer or provide a health care benefit that violates an                  

                                                                                

4   ethical, moral, or religious principle reflected in its articles            

                                                                                

5   of incorporation, bylaws, or an adopted mission statement.                  

                                                                                

6       (2) A health maintenance organization and a health insurer                  

                                                                                

7   shall not refuse to offer or provide a health care benefit under            

                                                                                

8   subsection (1) if the benefit is specifically covered under the             

                                                                                

9   contract, policy, or certificate.                                           

                                                                                

10      (3) A health maintenance organization and a health insurer's                

                                                                                

11  refusal to offer or provide a health care benefit under                     

                                                                                


                                                                                

1   subsection (1) shall not be a basis for 1 or more of the                    

                                                                                

2   following:                                                                  

                                                                                

3       (a) Civil, criminal, or administrative liability.                           

                                                                                

4       (b) Eligibility discrimination against the health maintenance               

                                                                                

5   organization or health insurer in providing a contract, policy,             

                                                                                

6   or certificate where offering or providing the health care                  

                                                                                

7   benefit is not expressly required as a condition of eligibility.