The list of coverage requirements for Georgia health insurers would face scrutiny under a bill passed Thursday by the state Senate.
The legislation, Senate Bill 17, calls for the creation of a commission of experts to review the state's insurance mandates, which include coverage for mammograms, well-baby visits and 48-hour hospital stays for new mothers and babies.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Tim Golden, R-Valdosta, said the mandates drive up the cost of insurance and he wants experts to assess the costs and benefits of the requirements.
The mandates do not apply to everyone with health insurance in Georgia. Most large companies operate self-insured plans that are governed by federal law and not subject to state mandates. About 60 percent of Georgians who get insurance through an employer are covered by a self-insured plan.
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