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PS 1218

Para enmendar la Sección 6 del Artículo VI de la Ley 72-1993, según enmendada, conocida como “Ley de la Administración de Seguros de Salud de Puerto Rico” (ASES), a los fines de añadir un nuevo inciso (g) al apartado (1) de Servicios de Salud Preventivos, para incluir la evaluación médico‑deportiva anual obligatoria para niños, niñas y jóvenes deportistas, y para otros fines relacionados.

2025-2028 Session

Annual medical-sports evaluations for all school/federated youth athletes, at no cost to Government Health Plan members, to detect health risks early.

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Bill Summary · PS 1218

Summary of Bill PS 1218 (Session 2025-2028, Puerto Rico)

Purpose and intent

  • The bill seeks to amend Section 6, Article VI of Law 72-1993 (the Health Insurance Administration Law, ASES) to add a new mandatory annual medical-sports evaluation as a preventive health service.
  • Target: all children, girls, and boys who participate in federated or school sports.
  • Rationale provided in the bill’s sponsor’s statement emphasizes preventing sudden athlete deaths by identifying hidden cardiopulmonary or other health conditions through pre-participation screening, and ensuring access to such assessments regardless of ability to pay.

Key provisions and changes

Article 1: Addition to Preventive Health Services

  • Adds new subsection (g) to the list of Preventive Health Services under Cover C, Section 6 of Law 72-1993 (as amended).
  • New requirement: “Una evaluación médico‑deportiva anual obligatoria para todos los niños, niñas y jóvenes deportistas que participen en competencias federadas o escolares.”
    • This is an annual mandatory medical-sports evaluation for under-18 athletes competing in federated or school-level sports.

Article 2: Implementation and funding

  • ASES, in coordination with:
    • Department of Health (Departamento de Salud)
    • Department of Recreation and Sports (Departamento de Recreación y Deportes)
  • Must adopt the necessary regulations within 120 days of the law’s enactment to implement the service.
  • The evaluation must be offered as a preventive health service at no cost to beneficiaries of the Government Health Plan.

Article 3: Constitutional boilerplate

  • If any portion of the law is found unconstitutional, the remainder remains in effect.

Article 4: Effective date

  • The law would take effect immediately upon approval.

Affected parties and potential impacts

Directly affected

  • Child, adolescent, and youth athletes participating in federated or school sports in Puerto Rico.
  • Beneficiaries of Puerto Rico’s Government Health Plan (ASES beneficiaries), who would receive the medical-sports evaluation at no cost.

Implementing agencies

  • Administración de Seguros de Salud de Puerto Rico (ASES)
  • Departamento de Salud
  • Departamento de Recreación y Deportes

Operational considerations

  • Regulation development required within 120 days post-enactment.
  • The service is framed as a preventive benefit, potentially impacting scheduling, availability, and coordination with healthcare providers and sports programs.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Radicado date: May 1, 2026.
  • Regulation timeframe: 120 days after enactment to establish implementation details and procedures.
  • No funding changes are explicitly detailed beyond the service being offered at no cost to eligible beneficiaries; specifics would be determined in the regulatory process.

Summary in plain terms

Bill PS 1218 would require every child and young athlete who competes in school or federated sports in Puerto Rico to undergo an annual medical-sports evaluation. The service would be included as a preventive health service under ASES and provided at no cost to those enrolled in the Government Health Plan. The Administration of Health Insurance (ASES), along with Health and Recreation and Sports departments, would issue regulations within 120 days to implement the program. The aim is to improve athlete safety by detecting health issues early and reducing preventable sports-related health risks.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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