00                            HOUSE BILL NO. 209                                                                          
01 "An Act requiring a health care insurer to provide coverage for tobacco cessation                                       
02 treatment."                                                                                                             
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1. AS 21.42 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                  
05            Sec. 21.42.420. Coverage for tobacco cessation treatment. (a) A health care                                
06       insurer that offers, issues for delivery, delivers, or renews a health care insurance plan                        
07       in the state shall provide coverage for a minimum of two courses of tobacco cessation                             
08       treatment during each plan year.                                                                                  
09            (b)  Coverage for a course of tobacco cessation treatment must include the cost                              
10       of                                                                                                                
11                 (1)  not less than four tobacco cessation counseling sessions provided                                  
12       by a qualified counselor, which may be provided by telephone or in person in a group                              
13       or individual setting, and which must last not less than 10 minutes a session;                                    
14                 (2)  over-the-counter medication or prescribed medication approved by                                   

01       the United States Food and Drug Administration for tobacco cessation treatment.                                   
02            (c)  Coverage for tobacco cessation treatment may not                                                        
03                 (1)  require an insured individual to obtain preauthorization from the                                  
04       health care insurer before receiving treatment;                                                                   
05                 (2)  require a referral from a health care provider to participate in                                   
06       tobacco cessation treatment;                                                                                      
07                 (3)  require an individual to participate in a counseling session in order                              
08       to receive coverage for medication;                                                                               
09                 (4)  include treatment or financial requirements that are more restrictive                              
10       than the financial limitations or conditions applicable to the medical or surgical                                
11       benefits under the policy, including limitations on payments, deductible, or copayment                            
12       amounts.                                                                                                          
13    * Sec. 2. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                          
14 read:                                                                                                                   
15       APPLICABILITY. AS 21.42.420, enacted by sec. 1 of this Act, applies to a health                                   
16 care insurance plan offered, issued for delivery, delivered, or renewed after the effective date                        
17 of this Act.