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FAIRFIELD, Conn. Members of Fairfields delegation to the General Assembly celebrated a victory last month on behalf of a fallen constituent. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed into law H.B. No. 5032 in July before a crowd of state legislators. The new law requires medical insurance companies to cover bone marrow donor testing for all state residents.
Fairfields delegates were inspired in part by the story of Robbie Greenberger, a Fairfield native who lost his battle with leukemia in 2008, when he was just 20 years old.
More testing will grow the database of potential donors, opening the door for more and more people to receive the bone marrow transplants that could save their lives, said State Rep. Brenda Kupchick.
The law requires insurance companies to cover all but a co-pay for the procedure, which can cost up to $387, according to HealthCare Blue Book. But potential donors must register with the National Marrow Donor Program in order to qualify, ensuring that those in need of transplants all over the country can find more potential matching donors.
All four members of Fairfields state delegationKupchick, State Reps. Kim Fawcett and Tony Hwang and State Sen. John McKinneywere among the 60 co-sponsors of the bill. The law passed through the House of Representatives with a landslide 134-7 vote, and received unanimous support in the Senate.
Kupchick said she hopes the new law will help others with Greenberger's illness get the help they need.
This isnt a luxury, this is a life and death situation for families in every corner of this state, she said. This testing should be covered by insuranceplain and simple.
Do you have a question for any of Fairfields state representatives? Send them to gcanuel@thedailyfairfield.com.
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