Missouri Senate Bill regarding Weight Loss Surgery

Has anyone on the list heard or read anything about this bill? Has it passed? Does it mean no more exclusions in insurance policies? Below is what I have found on the web. It states that " All health benefit plans, as defined in section 2 376.1350, that are delivered, issued for delivery, continued, or renewed 3 on or after August 28, 2006, and providing coverage to any resident of 4 this state shall provide coverage for the treatment of morbid obesity." SB 597 - This act requires health insurance companies to provide coverage for the treatment of morbid obesity. JIM ERTLE 376 RSMo SECOND REGULAR SESSION SENATE BILL NO. 597 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY INTRODUCED BY SENATOR DAYS. Pre-filed December 1, 2005, and ordered printed. TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary. 3601S.01I AN ACT To amend chapter 376, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to insurance coverage for morbid obesity. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows: Section A. Chapter 376, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new 2 section, to be known as section 376.1635, to read as follows: 376.1635. 1. All health benefit plans, as defined in section 2 376.1350, that are delivered, issued for delivery, continued, or renewed 3 on or after August 28, 2006, and providing coverage to any resident of 4 this state shall provide coverage for the treatment of morbid obesity. 5 2. As used in this section, the term "morbid obesity" means a 6 weight which is at least one hundred pounds over or twice the ideal 7 weight for frame, age, height, and gender as specified in the 1983 8 Metropolitan Life Insurance tables. Morbid obesity also means a body 9 mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than thirty-five kilograms per 10 meter squared with comorbidity or coexisting medical conditions such 11 as hypertension, cardiopulmonary conditions, sleep apnea, or diabetes 12 or a BMI of forty kilograms per meter squared without such 13 comorbidity. BMI equals weight in kilograms divided by height in 14 meters squared. T Thank you Datgirl

I am not sure but I dont think the bill passed. Maybe it will pass next year. With a republican govenor and legislators it is not looking good though. Maybe if they get enough pressure they will pass it.

I spoke before the Senate at the hearing for this bill. There were only 3 of us 2 pre-ops (hoping for WLS) and 1 post op. Needless to say, there was a huge number of reps there for the insurance companies to oppose this bill. Senator Days (the bill sponsor)sent me this email: "Thank you for your comments. I think the bill is done for this year. United Healthcare has promised to work on some language with me that may be more acceptable to the insurance companies. I appreciate you making the trip to testify. Hopefully you can get some relief before next year." Sincerely, Rita Heard Days Looks like this bill is done for this year. It would help if everyone would email and write the Senators on the committee to help keep it alive or at least in their minds for next year. We have to build support for this bill because trust me when I say, no one is going to fight for this- but us. Everyone keep praying and working to make this happen. I know there are others like me who are stuck due to exclusions and being denied this life saving operation. Dannielle