Pennsylvania SB 610: An Act amending the act of June 13, 2008 (P.L.182, No.27), known as the Clean Indoor Air Act, further providing for definitions; further prohibiting smoking in public places; and repealing certain provisions of the Fire and Panic Act.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 616
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 610
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY CAPPELLETTI, SCHWANK, HAYWOOD, COSTA AND KANE,
APRIL 9, 2025
REFERRED TO BANKING AND INSURANCE, APRIL 9, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), entitled "An
act relating to insurance; amending, revising, and
consolidating the law providing for the incorporation of
insurance companies, and the regulation, supervision, and
protection of home and foreign insurance companies, Lloyds
associations, reciprocal and inter-insurance exchanges, and
fire insurance rating bureaus, and the regulation and
supervision of insurance carried by such companies,
associations, and exchanges, including insurance carried by
the State Workmen's Insurance Fund; providing penalties; and
repealing existing laws," in casualty insurance, providing
for enrolled dependents right to confidentiality for health
care services received.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known
as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 635.11. Enrolled Dependents Right to Confidentiality
for Health Care Services Received.--(a) A health insurance
policy or government program that is offered, issued or renewed
in this Commonwealth shall include policies and procedures that
comply with Federal and State law to ensure that all
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identifiable information regarding receipt of health care
services by a protected enrolled dependent is adequately
protected and remains confidential.
(b) A health insurer shall develop a standardized
confidential communications request form, in an easily readable
and understandable format as approved by the department, to
permit a protected enrolled dependent to request an alternative
method for receiving confidential communication related to the
receipt of health care services, according to the following:
(1) A health insurer shall permit any protected enrolled
dependent to submit a confidential communications request.
(2) A request by a protected enrolled dependent exercising
the option for confidential communication shall be submitted in
writing using the standardized form.
(3) The availability of the standardized form shall be
disseminated in a health insurance policy or government program.
(c) Confidential communications subject to the requirements
of this section include the following:
(1) explanation of benefits;
(2) information related to an appointment for health care
services;
(3) a claim denial;
(4) a request for additional information related to a claim;
(5) a notice of a contested claim;
(6) the name and address of a provider, a description of
services provided and other visit information; and
(7) any written, oral or electronic communication from a
carrier that contains protected health information.
(d) Alternative methods of receiving confidential
communication shall include:
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(1) sending a paper form to an alternate address as
requested by the protected enrolled dependent;
(2) sending electronic communication to an alternate
electronic address as requested by the protected enrolled
dependent; or
(3) withholding confidential communication as requested by
the protected enrolled dependent until an alternative method of
receiving communication is requested subsequently at a later
date by the protected enrolled dependent. A protected enrolled
dependent shall be permitted to submit a subsequent request
orally in-person or by telephone, or by paper or electronic
written communication.
(e) In the event that a protected enrolled dependent has no
liability for payment for a procedure or service, a health
insurance policy or government program shall permit a protected
enrolled dependent to request suppression of all confidential
communications, in which case the explanation of benefits, or
any confidential communication covered under this section, shall
not be issued.
(f) A health insurer or government program shall ensure that
requests for confidential communication required under
subsection (b) are implemented not later than three business
days after receipt of a request. A health insurer shall
acknowledge receipt of a protected enrolled dependent's
confidential communications request form by providing notice to
the protected enrolled dependent through the alternative method
of communication as requested by the protected enrolled
dependent.
(g) The department, in collaboration with the Department of
Health, may develop and implement a plan to educate health care
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providers and consumers regarding the rights of protected
enrolled dependents and the responsibilities of health insurers
to promote comp