HCS HB 1327 -- WILLING PROVIDERS OF HEALTH CARE

SPONSOR:  Schaaf

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Healthcare Facilities by a vote of 6 to 4.

This substitute prohibits health insurers, the Missouri Medicaid
Program, and the federal Medicare Program from discriminating
against any provider located within the geographic coverage area
of a health benefit plan who is willing to meet the terms and
conditions for participation in the plan.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund could exceed
$8,991,335 in FY 2007, could exceed $10,789,603 in FY 2008, and
could exceed $10,789,603 in FY 2009.  Estimated cost on Other
State Funds could exceed $1,618,722 in FY 2007, could exceed
$1,942,466 in FY 2008, and could exceed $1,942,466 in FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say the bill is a stepping stone to
preserving the patient-physician relationship.  Patients need to
be taken care of by their physician of choice and not have to
shop for a different physician every other year.  If a physician
is willing to agree to the terms of the pay grid by the insurance
company, the patient should be able to continue to see the
physician of his or her choice.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Schaaf; Missouri
Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons; Missouri
State Chiropractors Association; Dr. Jerry Catapang; Dr. Thomas
Greene; Dr. Marsha Taylor; Missouri State Medical Association;
Missouri Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons; Missouri
Pharmacy Association; and Missouri Academy of Family Physicians.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that the cost of
implementation will cause premiums to increase and will bring an
end to provider plans.  Missouri already has a structural process
in place to protect health care providers when House Bill 335 was
enacted in 1997.

Testifying against the bill were Blue Cross Blue Shield of
Missouri; Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry; United
HealthCare; Missouri Insurance Coalition; America's Health
Insurance Plans; Aetna, Incorporated; Cigna Healthcare; and
Missouri's Health Insurance Plans.

Dominic Lackey, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:42 am