00 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 82(HES)                                                                                        
01 "An Act requiring that the cost of contraceptives obtained by prescription and                                          
02 related health care services be included in health insurance coverage."                                                 
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
04    * Section 1.  SHORT TITLE.  This Act may be known as the Contraceptive Coverage Act                                
05 of 1999.                                                                                                                
06    * Sec. 2.  FINDINGS AND INTENT.  (a)  The legislature finds that                                                   
07   (1)  contraceptive technology is constantly changing and that even medical                                            
08 experts disagree on how certain methods of contraception work; therefore, it is unwise to                               
09 dispute specific methods of contraception; and                                                                          
10   (2)  contraceptives have the primary purpose of, or special utility for, preventing                                   
11 conception.                                                                                                             
12  (b)  It is the intent of the legislature that                                                                          
13   (1)  insurance providers be required to cover the cost of contraceptives obtained                                     
14 by prescription and related health care services;                                                                       
01   (2)  conception be understood as the fertilization of an ovum; and                                                    
02   (3)  insurance providers not be required to cover the cost of prescriptive drugs                                      
03 necessary to cause the rejection of a fertilized ovum.                                                                  
04    * Sec. 3.  AS 21.42 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                    
05  Sec. 21.42.390.  Coverage for contraceptives by prescription.  (a)  Except                                          
06 as provided in (b) of this section, a health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery,                             
07 delivers, or renews in this state a health care insurance plan shall provide coverage for                               
08 contraceptives obtained by prescription and related health care services.  The coverage                                 
09 required under this section is subject to standard policy provisions applicable to other                                
10 benefits, including deductible or copayment provisions.                                                                 
11  (b)  This section does not apply to a policy                                                                          
12   (1)  issued to an individual;                                                                                        
13   (2)  issued to a qualified church-controlled organization with a religious-                                          
14 based objection to contraceptives; or                                                                                   
15   (3)  that does not provide coverage for drugs obtained by prescription.                                              
16  (c)  In this section,                                                                                                 
17   (1) "health care services" includes consultations, examinations,                                                     
18 procedures, and services medically necessary to prescribe or administer contraceptives;                                 
19   (2)  "qualified church-controlled organization" has the meaning given                                                
20 in 26 U.S.C. 3121(w)(3).