00CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 300(HES)                                                                                        
01 "An Act relating to patients' rights under health insurance; relating to review of                                      
02 health insurance treatment plans; prohibiting certain health insurance practices."                                      
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
04    * Section 1.  SHORT TITLE.  This Act may be known as the Alaska Patients' Bill of                                  
05 Rights.                                                                                                                 
06    * Sec. 2.  AS 21.42 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                    
07  Sec 21.42.390.  Required health insurance coverage provisions.  (a)  A                                              
08 health care insurer may not include in the health care insurance plan or contract a                                     
09 provision that                                                                                                          
10   (1)  prohibits a covered person from obtaining health care services from                                             
11 a health care provider of the person's choice, including a specialist;                                                  
12   (2)  restricts a covered person's right to receive full information from                                             
13 the person's health care provider regarding the care or treatment options that the health                               
14 care provider believes are in the best interests of the person.                                                         

01  (b)  A health care insurer may not deny, reduce, or terminate health care                                             
02 benefits for a covered person unless the denial, reduction, or termination is approved                                  
03 by a physician who is licensed to practice in the United States.                                                        
04  (c)  A health care insurer may not                                                                                    
05   (1)  directly or indirectly reimburse a covered person at a different rate                                           
06 because of the person's choice of provider;                                                                             
07   (2)  deny coverage, cancel a health care insurance plan or subscriber                                                
08 contract, or otherwise take action against a covered person or a health care provider                                   
09 because the person has asserted a right described under this section.                                                   
10  (d)  A covered person may bring a civil action against a health care insurer to                                       
11 enforce the person's rights under this section.                                                                         
12  (e)  In this section,                                                                                                 
13   (1)  "health care provider" means a person licensed in this state to                                                 
14 provide health care services;                                                                                           
15   (2)  "health care services" means treatment of an individual for an                                                  
16 injury, illness, or disability and includes preventative treatment of an injury or illness.