Sponsored by: Rep. Jessica Farrar (D-Houston)
Summary: Under current law, most health benefit plans that provide coverage for a mastectomy must also provide coverage for reconstructive surgery and a related hospital stay following a mastectomy. However, "standard health benefit plans"—insurance policies that, in whole or in part, do not provide state-mandated health benefits—are not currently required to provide reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy. This bill would have required any "standard health benefit plan" that covers mastectomy to also cover post-mastectomy reconstruction surgery.
PPNT Position: Supported—Post-mastectomy reconstructive surgery is a standard procedure that most women undergo to restore or achieve breast symmetry. Allowing her health benefit provider to deny coverage for reconstruction surgery is unjust and cruel to a woman undergoing a mastectomy.
Latest Action: 03/27/2007 - Left pending in the House Insurance committee.
Recorded Votes: None.
