ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 1, 1996 TAG: 9603010076
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE AND ROBERT LITTLE STAFF WRITERS
At least 400,000 women in managed care plans would be guaranteed unlimited access to gynecological care under a bill that advanced Thursday to the Virginia Senate.
Under the bill, Virginia would become one of three states to require managed care plans to allow gynecological visits without a referral from a "gatekeeper" physician. The other states are North Carolina and Mississippi.
In other action, environmentalists moved one step closer to getting a law allowing individuals to challenge water pollution permits in court. And the Senate edged toward a showdown on parental notification for abortion.
The so-called OB-GYN bill sailed through the Senate Education and Health Committee without dissent, despite insurers' misgivings that the measure would undermine managed care and increase costs.
The Virginia law would apply to women enrolled in commercial managed care plans. It would not affect state workers, poor women on Medicaid or women employed by self-insured companies.
Del. Gladys Keating, D-Fairfax County, said some managed care providers have made it difficult, inconvenient and sometimes impossible for women to see their gynecologist.
A coalition of insurers and businesses had agreed to give women direct access for an annual visit and any follow-up care. Any other visits would have required authorization.
But no senator offered the amendment.
"I'm frustrated by the fact that any amendment to this bill was perceived as a vote against women," said May Fox, a lobbyist for the Virginia Association of HMOs.
One senator explained that his wife and daughters laid down the law. "There will be a tent out in the back yard if I don't vote for this bill," said Sen. Russell Potts, R-Winchester.
House Bill 442 now goes to the full Senate, which is virtually certain to endorse it. Gov. George Allen has not said whether or not he would sign it into law.
In other action:
nBy a vote of 27-11, the Senate passed a House-approved bill allowing individuals to challenge water permits in court.
Virginia is the only state that allows no one but the applicant to appeal permit decisions. The bill is designed to bring the state into compliance with federal law that requires residents be given "standing" in court.
Allen generally opposes the concept and could veto it. A representative for his office would not comment.
Allen's indication that he would agree to an amendment in parental notification legislation failed to convince a perennially hostile Senate committee.
Opponents said the governor's offer was empty because it would not change the House-approved bill requiring minor girls seeking abortion to notify a parent or guardian.
Allen circulated a letter stating he would sign the bill with an amendment allowing grandparents or other relatives to be notified - if they are the legal guardians.
Opponents noted that the bill already allows guardians to be notified in place of a parent.
The Senate Education and Health Committee delayed action to consider the other possible changes.
If the panel again kills the bill, proponents are expected to use a parliamentary maneuver to bring the abortion measure directly to the Senate floor before the General Assembly adjourns March 9.
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1996by CNB