As of mid-June 2000, more than 10,000 health-related bills and amendments were introduced in 44 state legislatures and the District of Columbia, according to a new report by the Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA), an industry group.

According to HIAA's report, six states -- Arkansas, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon and Texas -- did not consider health care issues because the legislature did not convene.

• Of the 44 states in session, four states -- Arizona, Maine, Oklahoma and Washington -- passed laws expanding the liability of health plans.

• Eleven states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire and Tennessee) voted not to grant antitrust waivers to physicians and other health care providers in setting prices -- and the issue is still before D.C. and seven states (Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island).

• Eight states (Alaska, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin) enacted legislation requiring health insurers to provide an external review process for plan members contesting coverage decisions, adding to the 30 states and D.C. that already have adopted similar legislation.

• And West Virginia approved legislation to provide tax relief for consumers who purchase private long-term care insurance, joining 21 other states that already have approved similar legislation.

So far in 2000, 24 states have enacted 46 mandated benefits employers and consumers with state-regulated insurance would have to add to their benefits packages. The mandates range from very broad requirements (such as reimbursement for diabetes treatment, costs associated with clinical trials, and prescription contraceptives) to very specific requirements -- such as a mandate to cover the costs of treating compulsive gambling, introduced in New Jersey.

Source: "State Health Insurance Mid-Year Report: A State-By-State Analysis," HIAA Press Briefing, June 22, 2000, Health Insurance Association of America, Washington, D.C.