                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

COVERAGE FOR HEMOPHILIA AND CONGENITAL BLEEDING DISORDERS (§ 38.2-3418.3)

A. Notwithstanding the provisions of &#xA7; 38.2-3419, each insurer proposing to
issue individual or group accident and sickness insurance policies providing
hospital, medical and surgical, or major medical coverage on an expense-incurred
basis; each corporation providing individual or group accident and sickness
subscription contracts; and each health maintenance organization providing a
health care plan for health care services shall provide coverage for hemophilia
and congenital bleeding disorders under such policy, contract or plan delivered,
issued for delivery or renewed in this Commonwealth on and after July 1, 1998.

B. For the purpose of this section:
			&#8220;Blood infusion equipment&#8221; includes, but is not limited to,
syringes and needles.
			&#8220;Blood product&#8221; includes, but is not limited to, Factor VII,
Factor VIII, Factor IX, and cryoprecipitate.
			&#8220;Hemophilia&#8221; means a lifelong hereditary bleeding disorder
usually affecting males that results in prolonged bleeding primarily into joints
and muscles.
			&#8220;Home treatment program&#8221; means a program where individuals or
family members are trained to provide infusion therapy at home in order to
achieve optimal health and cost effectiveness.
			&#8220;State-approved hemophilia treatment center&#8221; means a hospital or
clinic which receives federal or state Maternal and Child Health Bureau, and/or
Centers for Disease Control funds to conduct comprehensive care for persons with
hemophilia and other congenital bleeding disorders.

C. The benefits to be provided shall include coverage for expenses incurred in
connection with the treatment of routine bleeding episodes associated with
hemophilia and other congenital bleeding disorders. The benefits to be provided
shall include coverage for the purchase of blood products and blood infusion
equipment required for home treatment of routine bleeding episodes associated
with hemophilia and other congenital bleeding disorders when the home treatment
program is under the supervision of the state-approved hemophilia treatment
center.

D. The provisions of this section shall not apply to short-term travel, accident
only, limited or specified disease policies, policies or contracts designed for
issuance to persons eligible for coverage under Title XVIII of the Social
Security Act, known as Medicare, or to any other similar coverage under state or
federal governmental plans, or to short-term nonrenewable policies of not more
than six months&#8217; duration.

HISTORY: 1998, cc. 43, 120.