SJR 9 – ITTC RFP extension
SF 402 – Dental care service insurance coverage
HF 488 – ABD technical
FLOOR ACTION:
SJR 9 is a joint resolution to extend the date for receiving responses to a request for proposals issued on February 6, 2013, for the sale or lease of the Iowa Communications Network. It extends the current deadline from April 30, 2013, to July 31, 2013. The resolution directs the Iowa Telecommunications and Technology Commission to adjust and extend all other established deadlines associated with the request for proposals in a manner consistent with the July 31 date. The resolution takes effect upon enactment and, if approved by the Governor on or after April 30, 2013, applies retroactively to that date. [3/18: 48-0 (Chelgren, Sinclair absent]
SF 402 relates to insurance coverage for dental care services and addresses assignment of benefits and external review. Assignment of benefits assures that the insured and/or the patient will have the policy benefits applied against their oral health care costs. If a patient chooses an out-of-network dentist, the same amount of benefits will be paid, resulting in no increased cost of care. A person who owns rights or benefits under a policy or contract of insurance that provides for coverage of dental care services must be allowed to assign any or part of that person’s rights and privileges under the policy or contract, including the right to designate a beneficiary and to have an individual policy or contract issued. The assignment is without prejudice to an insurer that makes a payment in good faith under the policy or contract before receiving notice of the assignment. If written proof of the assignment of benefits is presented to an insurer, health maintenance organization, managed care plan, health care plan, preferred provider organization or other third-party payer, the payment for coverage of dental care services must be made directly to the health care provider providing the services. This is not meant to prevent reconciliation of duplicate payments. The bill extends to dental patients the external review procedure that is currently in the Code for medical patients. A dental patient whose claim is denied would have the opportunity to have that claim reviewed by the Insurance Commissioner. The same patient protection criteria given to medical patients would apply: medical necessity, appropriateness of care, health care setting, level of care and effectiveness. The decisions of health carriers issuing a policy or certificate that includes coverage for dental care, or a policy or certificate that provides only dental care coverage would be subject to external review provisions. [3/18: 38-10 (Behn, Breitbach, Dix, Ernst, Guth, Rozenboom, Schneider, Whitver, Zaun, Zumbach “no”; Chelgren, Sinclair absent)]
HF 488 is a recommendation by the Alcoholic Beverages Division of the Department of Commerce. It makes non-substantive changes to pave the way for electronic delivery of services. For example, it allows electronic reporting of beer sales and wine gallons sold, and electronic remittance of beer taxes and wine gallonage taxes. It also makes minor technical changes to streamline and clarify current Code language and enhance readability. [3/20: 50-0]