Health Equity & Blood Oxygen Bill Advances

March 31, 2021

SB 1008, AN ACT CONCERNING HEALTH EQUITY, THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND PULSE OXIMETERS, based on HB 6241, prohibits denial of coverage for an otherwise covered benefit if such denial is exclusively based on an insured's blood oxygen level as measured by a pulse oximeter. The device gives important information, especially if your baseline level drops. But if an absolute level is used to determine eligibility, people of color may be denied needed care. The FDA also recently gave new guidance on the devices, which you can read here.