HOUSE BILL NO. 667 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled January 8, 2008 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 38.2-3407.9:03, relating to coverage for less intrusive alternatives to surgery. ---------- Patron-- Marshall, R.G. ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 38.2-3407.9:03 as follows:

§ 38.2-3407.9:03. Coverage for alternatives to surgery.

Each (i) insurer proposing to issue individual or group accident and sickness insurance policies providing hospital, medical and surgical or major medical coverage on an expense-incurred basis, (ii) corporation providing individual or group accident and sickness subscription contracts, and (iii) health maintenance organization providing a health care plan for health care services, whose policy, contract or plan, including any certificate or evidence of coverage issued in connection with such policy, contract or plan, includes coverage for surgical treatment of a medical condition or disease shall also include coverage for any nonsurgical treatment for the medical condition or disease that is (a) less expensive, (b) less dangerous, (c) not experimental or investigational, (d) generally recognized by the regional medical community as an appropriate treatment for the condition or disease, and (e) not less efficacious than the surgical treatment.