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AAP News Vol. 2 No. 5 May 1986, p. 3 © 1986 American Academy of Pediatrics
Home health care On March 19, the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee approved S.1793, the Alternatives to Hospitalization for Medical Technology Dependent Children Act of 1985. If enough co-sponsors sign onto the bill, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) reportedly is prepared to take the measure to the Senate floor. The AAP bill establishes a task force under the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment to develop a model program that would urge employee benefit plans to cover home health care for children dependent on medical technology. The model program would require insurers to be responsible for costs which are no greater than those they are currently paying for services required by these children in a hospital setting. Within one year, if less than 80 percent of the employee benefit plans do not provide coverage similar to that suggested by the model such coverage would be mandated by law.
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