Previous PageTable Of ContentsNext Page

PUBLIC LAWS OF MAINE
Second Special Session of the 121st

PART B

     Sec. B-1. 24 MRSA §2318, sub-§6 is enacted to read:

     6. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-2. 24 MRSA §2318-A, as amended by PL 2001, c. 258, Pt. A, §1, is further amended to read:

§2318-A. Maternity and routine newborn care

     A nonprofit hospital or medical service organization that issues individual and group contracts and certificates providing maternity benefits, including benefits for childbirth, shall provide coverage for services related to maternity and routine newborn care, including coverage for hospital stay, in accordance with the attending physician's or attending certified nurse midwife's determination in conjunction with the mother that the mother and newborn meet the criteria outlined in the "Guidelines for Perinatal Care," published by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. For the purposes of this section, "routine newborn care" does not include any services provided after the mother has been discharged from the hospital. For the purposes of this section, "attending physician" includes the obstetrician, pediatrician or other physician attending the mother and newborn. Benefits for routine newborn care required by this section are part of the mother's benefit. The mother and the newborn are treated as one person in calculating the deductible, coinsurance and copayments for coverage required by this section.

     Sec. B-3. 24 MRSA §2320-A, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 875, Pt. I, §2, is amended to read:

     3. Application. This section applies to all policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State on or after March 1, 1991. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-4. 24 MRSA §2320-B, as amended by PL 1995, c. 671, §8, is further amended to read:

§2320-B. Acupuncture services

     All individual and group nonprofit medical services plan contracts and certificates and all nonprofit health care plan contracts and certificates providing coverage for acupuncture must provide coverage for those services when performed by an acupuncturist licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 113-B, sub-chapter II 2, under the same conditions that apply to the services of a licensed physician.

     Sec. B-5. 24 MRSA §2320-C, sub-§3 is enacted to read:

     3. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-6. 24 MRSA §2325-A, sub-§10 is enacted to read:

     10. Application. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the requirements of this section apply to all policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-7. 24 MRSA §2332-J, sub-§3 is enacted to read:

     3. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-8. 24 MRSA §2332-K, sub-§4 is enacted to read:

     4. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-9. 24 MRSA §2332-L, sub-§5 is enacted to read:

     5. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-10. 24 MRSA §2332-M, sub-§6 is enacted to read:

     6. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-11. 24-A MRSA §2832, as amended by PL 1979, c. 663, §146, is further amended to read:

§2832.   Maternity benefits for unmarried women certificate holders and the minor dependents of certificate holders with dependent or family coverage required

     All group or blanket health insurance policies and plans, contracts and certificates shall provide the same maternity benefits for unmarried women certificate holders, and the minor dependents of certificate holders with dependent or family coverage, as is provided married certificate holders with maternity coverage and the wives of certificate holders with maternity coverage. This requirement shall apply applies to all group or blanket insurance written or renewed after the effective date of this Act, and shall include includes, but is not be limited to, all types and forms of group insurance issued by individual companies or corporations.

     Sec. B-12. 24-A MRSA §2834-A, as amended by PL 2001, c. 258, Pt. A, §3, is further amended to read:

§2834-A. Maternity and routine newborn care

     An insurer that issues group contracts and certificates providing maternity benefits, including benefits for childbirth, shall provide coverage for services related to maternity and routine newborn care, including coverage for hospital stay, in accordance with the attending physician's or attending certified nurse midwife's determination in conjunction with the mother that the mother and newborn meet the criteria outlined in the "Guidelines for Perinatal Care," published by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. For the purposes of this section, "routine newborn care" does not include any services provided after the mother has been discharged from the hospital. For the purposes of this section, "attending physician" includes the obstetrician, pediatrician or other physician attending the mother and newborn. Benefits for routine newborn care required by this section are part of the mother's benefit. The mother and the newborn are treated as one person in calculating the deductible, coinsurance and copayments for coverage required by this section.

     Sec. B-13. 24-A MRSA §2835, sub-§§1 and 3, as amended by PL 2003, c. 65, §2 and affected by §5, are further amended to read:

     1. Notwithstanding any provision of a health insurance policy or certificate issued under a group policy subject to this chapter, whenever the policy provides for payment or reimbursement for services that are within the lawful scope of practice of a psychologist licensed to practice in this State; a certified social worker licensed for the independent practice of social work in this State who has at least a masters degree in social work from an accredited educational institution, has been employed in social work for at least 2 years, and who, after January 1, 1985, must be licensed as a clinical social worker in this State; a licensed clinical professional counselor licensed for the independent practice of counseling who has at least a masters degree in counseling from an accredited educational institution, has been employed in counseling for at least 2 years and, after January 1, 2002, must be licensed as a clinical professional counselor in this State; or a licensed nurse who is certified by the American Nurses' Association as a clinical specialist in adult psychiatric and mental health nursing or as a clinical specialist in child and adolescent psychiatric and mental health nursing, any person covered by the policy is entitled to reimbursement for these services if the services are performed by a physician; a psychologist licensed to practice in this State; a certified social worker licensed for independent practice in this State who has at least a masters degree in social work from an accredited educational institution, who has been employed in social work for at least 2 years, and who, after January 1, 1985, must be licensed as a clinical social worker in this State; a licensed clinical professional counselor licensed for the independent practice of counseling who has at least a masters degree in counseling from an accredited educational institution, has been employed in counseling for at least 2 years and, after January 1, 2002, must be licensed as a clinical professional counselor in this State; or a licensed nurse certified by the American Nurses' Association as a clinical specialist in adult or child and adolescent psychiatric and mental health nursing. Payment or reimbursement for services rendered by clinical social workers licensed in this State, licensed clinical professional counselors licensed in this State or licensed nurses certified by the American Nurses' Association as clinical specialists in adult or child and adolescent psychiatric and mental health nursing may not be conditioned upon prior diagnosis or referral by a physician or other health care professional, except in cases where diagnosis of the condition for which the services are rendered is beyond the scope of their licensure.

     3. Mental health services provided by counseling professionals. Except as provided in subsection 1 with regard to reimbursement of clinical professional counselors licensed in this State, an insurer that issues group health care contracts providing coverage for mental health services shall make available coverage for those services when performed by a counseling professional who is licensed by the State pursuant to Title 32, chapter 119 to assess and treat interpersonal and intrapersonal problems, has at least a masters degree in counseling or a related field from an accredited educational institution and has been employed as a counselor for at least 2 years. Any contract providing coverage for the services of counseling professionals pursuant to this section may be subject to any reasonable limitations, maximum benefits, coinsurance, deductibles or exclusion provisions applicable to overall benefits under the contract. This subsection applies to all policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State on or after January 1, 1997. For purposes of this subsection, all contracts are deemed renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-14. 24-A MRSA §2837-B, as amended by PL 1995, c. 671, §10, is further amended to read:

§2837-B. Acupuncture services

     All group insurance policies and certificates providing coverage for acupuncture must provide coverage for those services when performed by an acupuncturist licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 113-B, subchapter II 2, under the same conditions that apply to the services of a licensed physician.

     Sec. B-15. 24-A MRSA §2837-C, sub-§3 is enacted to read:

     3. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all group policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-16. 24-A MRSA §2843, sub-§8, as repealed and replaced by PL 1995, c. 407, §9, is amended to read:

     8. Application. This section does not apply to accidental injury, specified disease, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, long-term care or other limited benefit health insurance policies. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the requirements of this section apply to all policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-17. 24-A MRSA §2846, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 176, §6, is amended to read:

§2846. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

     No A group health insurance policy or certificate delivered or issued for delivery in this State may not provide more restrictive benefits for sickness or disablement or the related expenses resulting from Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), AIDS Related Complex (ARC) or HIV related diseases than for any other sickness or disabling condition or exclude benefits for AIDS, ARC or HIV related diseases except through an exclusion under which all sicknesses and diseases are treated the same. This section shall does not apply to a policy providing benefits for specific diseases or accidental injury only.

     Sec. B-18. 24-A MRSA §2847-G, sub-§3 is enacted to read:

     3. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-19. 24-A MRSA §2847-H, sub-§4 is enacted to read:

     4. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all group policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-20. 24-A MRSA §2847-I, sub-§5 is enacted to read:

     5. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all group policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-21. 24-A MRSA §2847-J, sub-§3 is enacted to read:

     3. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all group policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-22. 24-A MRSA §2847-K, sub-§6 is enacted to read:

     6. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all group policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-23. 24-A MRSA §4234-B, as amended by PL 2001, c. 258, Pt. A, §4, is further amended to read:

§4234-B. Maternity and routine newborn care

     Individual and group contracts and certificates issued by a health maintenance organization that provide maternity benefits, including benefits for childbirth, shall provide coverage for services related to maternity and routine newborn care, including coverage for hospital stay, in accordance with the attending physician's or attending certified nurse midwife's determination in conjunction with the mother that the mother and newborn meet the criteria outlined in the "Guidelines for Perinatal Care," published by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. For the purposes of this section, "routine newborn care" does not include any services provided after the mother has been discharged from the hospital. For the purposes of this section, "attending physician" includes the obstetrician, pediatrician or other physician attending the mother and newborn. Benefits for routine newborn care required by this section are part of the mother's benefit. The mother and the newborn are treated as one person in calculating the deductible, coinsurance and copayments for coverage required by this section.

     Sec. B-24. 24-A MRSA §4237, sub-§3 is enacted to read:

     3. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all individual and group policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-25. 24-A MRSA §4237-A, sub-§3 is enacted to read:

     3. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all individual and group policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-26. 24-A MRSA §4246, sub-§5 is enacted to read:

     5. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all individual and group policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-27. 24-A MRSA §4247, sub-§3 is enacted to read:

     3. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all individual and group policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-28. 24-A MRSA §4248, sub-§4 is enacted to read:

     4. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all individual and group policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-29. 24-A MRSA §4250, sub-§3 is enacted to read:

     3. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all individual and group policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-30. 24-A MRSA §4251, sub-§6 is enacted to read:

     6. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all individual and group policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-31. 24-A MRSA §4310, sub-§5 is enacted to read:

     5. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all individual and group policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-32. 24-A MRSA §4311, sub-§4 is enacted to read:

     4. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all individual and group policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-33. 24-A MRSA §4314, sub-§5 is enacted to read:

     5. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all individual and group policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Sec. B-34. 24-A MRSA §4315, sub-§7 is enacted to read:

     7. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all individual and group policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

     Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

Effective February 19, 2004.

Revisor of Statutes Homepage Subject Index Search 121st Laws of Maine Maine Legislature

About the 2003 Laws Of Maine

Previous PageTop Of PageTable Of ContentsNext Page

Office of the Revisor of Statutes
State House, Room 108
Augusta, Maine 04333

Contact the Office of the Revisor of Statutes