Senate committee advances “Lila’s Law” to bar transplant denials based solely on disability

Summary

The Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee voted unanimously to give a do-pass recommendation to Senate Bill 155, “Lila’s Law,” which would prohibit denying organ-transplant consideration, waiting-list placement or insurance coverage solely because of a person’s disability and create an expedited appeal process.

A Senate committee on Monday advanced Senate Bill 155, known as “Lila’s Law,” after family members and disability advocates described cases in which people with disabilities were not referred for transplant evaluation.

Senator Davis, sponsor of the bill, told the Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee the measure would prohibit providers, insurers or hospitals from deeming a person ineligible for a transplant, refusing referrals for evaluation, placing a person at lower priority on a waiting list, or denying coverage on the sole basis of a mental or physical disability. The bill would also require reasonable modifications to permit participation unless a provider shows an undue burden or a fundamental alteration of services.

The bill, Davis said, preserves clinicians’ ability to assess medical eligibility: a person must meet the same essential…

Senate committee advances “Lila’s Law” to bar transplant denials based solely on disability

Summary

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