Chapter 04-035

2004 -- S 2939

Enacted 06/08/04

 

A N  A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LYME DISEASE AND TREATMENT

     

     Introduced By: Senators Damiani, Polisena, Sosnowski, Breene, and DaPonte

     Date Introduced: February 11, 2004

 

 

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

 

     SECTION 1. Section 5-37.5-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-37.5 entitled "Lyme

Disease Diagnosis and Treatment" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-37.5-5. Mandatory coverage for certain Lyme disease treatments. [Effective until

December 31, 2004.] -- Every individual or group hospital or medical expense insurance policy

or individual or group hospital or medical services plan contract delivered, issued for delivery, or

renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2004, shall provide for Lyme disease treatment as

provided in chapters 27-18, 27-19, 27-20, and 27-41 of the general laws.

     SECTION 2. Section 27-18-62 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-18 entitled "Accident

and Sickness Insurance Policies" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     27-18-62. Mandatory coverage for certain lyme disease treatments. [Effective until

December 31, 2004.] -- Every individual or group hospital or medical expense insurance policy

or individual or group hospital or medical services plan contract delivered, issued for delivery, or

renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2004 shall provide coverage for diagnostic testing and

long-term antibiotic treatment of chronic lyme disease when determined to be medically

necessary and ordered by a physician acting in accordance with chapter 37.5 of title 5 entitled

"lyme disease diagnosis and treatment" after making a thorough evaluation of the patient's

symptoms, diagnostic test results and response to treatment. Treatment otherwise eligible for

benefits pursuant to this section shall not be denied solely because such treatment may be

characterized as unproven, experimental, or investigational in nature. Provided, however, this

section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for:

      (1) Hospital confinement indemnity;

      (2) Disability income;

      (3) Accident only;

      (4) Long-term care;

      (5) Medicare supplement;

      (6) Limited benefit health;

      (7) Specified disease indemnity;

      (8) Sickness or bodily injury or death by accident or both; and

      (9) Other limited benefit policies.

     SECTION 3. Section 27-19-53 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-19 entitled "Nonprofit

Hospital Service Corporations" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     27-19-53. Mandatory coverage for certain lyme disease treatments. [Effective until

December 31, 2004.] -- Every individual or group hospital or medical expense insurance policy

or individual or group hospital or medical services plan contract delivered, issued for delivery, or

renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2004 shall provide coverage for diagnostic testing and

long term antibiotic treatment of chronic lyme disease when determined to be medically

necessary and ordered by a physician acting in accordance with chapter 37.5 of title 5 entitled

"lyme disease diagnosis and treatment" after making a thorough evaluation of the patient's

symptoms, diagnostic test results and response to treatment. Treatment otherwise eligible for

benefits pursuant to this section shall not be denied solely because such treatment may be

characterized as unproven, experimental, or investigational in nature.

     SECTION 4. Section 27-20-48 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-20 entitled "Nonprofit

Medical Service Corporations" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     27-20-48. Mandatory coverage for certain lyme disease treatments. [Effective until

December 31, 2004.] -- Every individual or group hospital or medical expense insurance policy

or individual or group hospital or medical services plan contract delivered, issued for delivery, or

renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2004 shall provide coverage for diagnostic testing and

long-term antibiotic treatment of chronic lyme disease when determined to be medically

necessary and ordered by a physician acting in accordance with chapter 37.5 of title 5 entitled

"lyme disease diagnosis and treatment" after making a thorough evaluation of the patient's

symptoms, diagnostic test results and response to treatment. Treatment otherwise eligible for

benefits pursuant to this section shall not be denied solely because such treatment may be

characterized as unproven, experimental, or investigational in nature.

     SECTION 5. Section 27-41-65 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-41 entitled "Health

Maintenance Organizations" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     27-41-65. Mandatory coverage for certain lyme disease treatments. [Effective until

December 31, 2004.] -- Subscribers to any health maintenance organization plan shall be

afforded coverage under that plan on or after January 1, 2004 for diagnostic testing and long term

antibiotic treatment of chronic lyme disease when determined to be medically necessary and

ordered by a physician acting in accordance with chapter 37.5 of title 5 entitled "lyme disease

diagnosis and treatment" after making a thorough evaluation of the patient's symptoms,

diagnostic test results and response to treatment. Treatment otherwise eligible for benefits

pursuant to this section shall not be denied solely because such treatment may be characterized as

unproven, experimental, or investigational in nature.

     SECTION 6. Section 7 of chapter 113 of the Rhode Island Public Laws 2003 is hereby

amended to read as follows:

     Section 7. This act shall take effect upon passage. and shall expire on December 31,

2004.

     SECTION 7. Section 7 of chapter 114 of the Rhode Island Public Laws 2003 is hereby

amended to read as follows:

     Section 7. This act shall take effect upon passage. and shall expire on December 31,

2004.

     SECTION 8. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC00692

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