Sen. Feinstein Introduces Coverage Expansion, Managed Care Reform

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has introduced several bills "to improve health care for children and working families," as well as implement managed care reform. Feinstein reintroduced the Family Health Insurance Program of 2001 (S. 574), which would expand the CHIP program to give states the option of covering low-income parents of already enrolled children. Under the act, as many as 2.7 million parents could be covered nationwide. Feinstein said, "This bill not only will help us enroll children eligible for the program, but it will also help their low-income parents get access to affordable health care." Feinstein also reintroduced the Hospital Length of Stay Act of 2001 (S. 575), which would require insurers to cover hospital stays for all conditions as determined by the treating physician. Additional bills Feinstein introduced include:

• Vaccines for Children Act of 2001 (S. 573): The bill would clarify that children in the CHIP program are eligible for free vaccinations.
• The Managed Care Health Benefits Integrity Act of 2001 (S. 577): The measure would require MCOs to limit administration spending to 15% of their premium revenues.
• The Reconstructive Surgery Act of 2001 (S. 576): The legislation would require insurers to cover medically necessary reconstructive surgery for congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors or disease (Feinstein release, 3/21).