1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to insurance; mandating coverage for smoking 
  1.3             cessation; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
  1.4             Statutes, chapter 62Q. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [62Q.501] [COVERAGE FOR SMOKING CESSATION.] 
  1.7      Subdivision 1.  [SCOPE OF COVERAGE.] For purposes of this 
  1.8   section, "health plan" includes coverage that is excluded under 
  1.9   section 62A.011, subdivision 3, clauses (7) and (10). 
  1.10     Subd. 2.  [REQUIRED COVERAGE.] A health plan must provide 
  1.11  coverage for services or products that are prescribed or ordered 
  1.12  by a health care provider, within the scope of the provider's 
  1.13  licensure, to help an insured or enrollee stop smoking. 
  1.14     Subd. 3. [EQUAL TREATMENT.] Coverage under this section 
  1.15  shall not be subject to a greater deductible, coinsurance, or 
  1.16  copayment than that applicable to any other coverage provided by 
  1.17  the health plan. 
  1.18     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.] 
  1.19     Section 1 is effective August 1, 1998, and applies to 
  1.20  health plans issued, renewed, or continued, as defined in 
  1.21  Minnesota Statutes, section 60A.02, subdivision 2a, to provide 
  1.22  coverage to a Minnesota resident on or after that date.