|
|
March 14, 1995
The Honorable ______________
House Committee on Insurance
______________________
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Dear Representative
I am writing to you as a friend of a child who has Phenylketonuria
(PKU) to urge you to support House Bill #853, more commonly known
as the Breast Cancer/PKU bill. This bill with amendments, requires
health insurance companies to provide coverage for medically necessary
food products as part of the treatment for PKU.
PKU is a rare genetic metabolic disease that results in mental
retardation and neurological deterioration when a very strict
low protein diet is not begun early and well-maintained. Specially
formulated medical foods are critical in this diet management
and are necessary to prevent mental retardation in the children
who have PKU. Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maryland have already
passed bills mandating insurance coverage of these special medical
foods.
We hope the state of Florida can also pass this relatively obscure,
yet very important and vital legislation. Thank you for your time
and consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,