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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06261990 - 1.32 1 . 032 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS -...... of 1r Contra Costa FROM: •: :• Phil Batchelor, County Administrator s County June 19 1990y DATE: gsrq-coaxes _ SUBJECT' LEGISLATION - AB 3055 (Friedman) SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION Indicate that the Board of Supervisors continues to SUPPORT AB 3055 by Assemblyman Friedman and three co-authors which would require all health care service plan contracts, disability insurance policies and nonprofit hospital service plan contracts, except for specialized health care service plan contracts, to provide coverage for the costs of treatment for alcohol and other chemical dependency. BACKGROUND: On March 20, 1990 the Board of Supervisors voted to support AB 3055 . On May 24, 1990 the bill was amended. Current law requires health care service plans, disability insurance policies, and nonprofit hospital service plans that cover hospital, medical, or surgical expenses on a group basis, to offer coverage for alcoholism on terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the parties. Assemblyman Friedman has introduced AB 3055 which, as amended May 24, 1990, would enact a requirement that on and after January 1, 1992, all health care service plan contracts, except specialized health care service plan contracts and on and after January 1, 1991, all disability insurance policies and nonprofit hospital service plan contracts, that cover hospital, medical or surgical CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YesYESSIGNATURE: &wz4 Z�L RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): 161t�( ACTION OF BOARD ON ju nn 26., 11;90 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. JUN 2 6 199' CC: ATTESTED Please See Pae 2. PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF Page SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY DEPUTY M382 (10/88) ' expenses on a group basis offer coverage for the treatment of chemical dependency. Specifically, each health care service plan contract, disability insurance policy and nonprofit hospital service plan contract which is issued, amended or renewed on or after either January 1, 1991 or January 1, 1992, would be required to provide coverage for the costs of treatment for alcoholism and other chemical dependency, in any facility licensed to provide alcohol and other chemical dependency services. Since the cost of such treatment can run into many thousands of dollars treatment is often not available to the average family unless insurance coverage assists in paying for the costs. Providing such coverage should encourage more individuals to avail themselves of the treatment and thereby assist in reducing the demand for alcohol and other drugs. This would be consistent with the Board of Supervisors' war on the abuse of alcohol and other drugs and is consistent with the Drug & Alcohol Action Plan. It is therefore recommended that the Board of Supervisors indicate its continued support for AB 3055. AB 3055 passed the Assembly Finance and Insurance Committee on May 22, 1990 by a vote of 11: 6. The bill passed the Assembly Ways and Means Committee on June 6, 1990 by a vote of 13 : 8. The bill is currently on the Third Reading File on the Assembly Floor. cc: Assemblyman Terry Friedman County Administrator Health Services Director Drug Program Administrator Alcohol Program Administrator Executive Director, CCHP Chair, Drug Abuse Advisory Board Chair, Alcoholism Advisory Board Les Spahnn, SRJ. Jackson, Barish & Associates