Governor Rell Signs Bill Requiring

Insurance Coverage for Skin Wound Care

Governor M. Jodi today signed a bill that requires certain insurance policies to cover medical supplies used in wound care for epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a rare genetic skin disorder characterized by recurring blisters and painful open sores.

The insurance coverage is applicable to supplies and services that are deemed medically necessary to treat the condition and are administered under a physician’s direction. Patients with this condition have very fragile skin that blisters, cracks and falls off at the slightest touch.

 “I hope this bill will provide some measure of relief for those living with this painful and devastating disorder,” Governor Rell said. “The financial costs can also be staggering and mount up month after month for those who require constant treatment.”

The law, House Bill 5023, applies to individual and group health insurance policies issued, renewed, amended or continued in Connecticut on or before January 1, 2010. The policies are those that cover basic hospital and medical-surgical expenses, major medical and coverage under an HMO plan.

The law defines “medically necessary” as health care services that a physician, exercising prudent clinical judgment, would provide to a patient to prevent, evaluate, diagnose or treat an illness, injury or disease.

According to the Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association of America, one out of every 50,000 live births is affected with some form of EB. The disorder occurs equally in both genders and in every racial and ethnic group.