House Insurance Committee reports bill requiring insurers to cover blood pressure monitors for pregnant, postpartum patients

The House Insurance Committee on Wednesday voted 14-12 to report House Bill 1088, which requires health insurers to cover blood pressure monitors for pregnant and postpartum insureds.

The bill, explained to the committee by Joan (staff member), “requires health insurers to cover blood pressure monitors for pregnant and postpartum insureds.” The measure does not include language on cost sharing or medical necessity, and Joan told the committee that because the bill does not restrict those areas, insurers may continue to impose cost-sharing requirements and medical-necessity determinations.

The vote was reported by the chair as 14 to 12. Committee remarks recorded during the roll call showed party-line opposition: “All of the Republicans” were identified as the negative votes while Democratic members, including the chair, were recorded as voting yes. No formal motion text beyond reporting the bill was recorded in the transcript, and no mover or seconder was named.

Committee members did not engage in extended debate on the measure in the excerpted transcript. The transcript contains no additional amendments, implementation dates, or specific funding mechanisms tied to the requirement.

If advanced, the bill would place a coverage requirement on insurers but leave cost-sharing and medical-necessity review to existing insurer practices, according to committee staff description.

The committee adjourned after reporting this and a second insurance bill for further consideration in the legislative process.