Minnesota Session Laws - 1988, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1988 

                        CHAPTER 441-H.F.No. 1853 
           An act relating to health; clarifying an existing 
          statute that requires insurance plans to cover the 
          services provided by a registered nurse engaged in 
          advanced nursing practice to the same extent that the 
          services would be covered if provided by a physician; 
          including nurse practitioners and clinical specialists 
          in psychiatric or mental health nursing among the 
          roles specifically listed as examples of advanced 
          nursing practice; requiring coverage for routine 
          diagnostic procedures for cancer; amending Minnesota 
          Statutes 1986, section 62A.15, subdivision 3a; 
          proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
          chapter 62A. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1986, section 62A.15, 
subdivision 3a, is amended to read:  
    Subd. 3a.  [NURSING SERVICES.] All benefits provided by a 
policy or contract referred to in subdivision 1, relating to 
expenses incurred for medical treatment or services of a duly 
licensed physician must include services provided by a 
registered nurse who is licensed pursuant to section 148.171 and 
who is certified by the profession to engage in advanced nursing 
practice.  "Advanced nursing practice" means the performance of 
health services by professional nurses who have gained 
additional knowledge and skills through an organized program of 
study and clinical experience preparing nurses for advanced 
practice roles as nurse anesthetists or, nurse midwives, nurse 
practitioners, or clinical specialists in psychiatric or mental 
health nursing.  The program of study must be beyond the 
education required for registered nurse licensure and must meet 
criteria established by the professional nursing organization 
having authority to certify the registered nurse in advanced 
nursing practice, and appear on a list established and 
maintained by the board of nursing through rulemaking.  
    This subdivision is intended to provide payment of benefits 
for treatment and services by a licensed registered nurse 
certified in advanced nursing practice as defined in this 
subdivision and is not intended to add to the benefits provided 
for in these policies or contracts. 
     Sec. 2.  [62A.30] [COVERAGE FOR DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES FOR 
CANCER.] 
    Subdivision 1.  [SCOPE OF COVERAGE.] This section applies 
to all policies of accident and health insurance, health 
maintenance contracts regulated under chapter 62D, health 
benefit certificates offered through a fraternal beneficiary 
association regulated under chapter 64B, and group subscriber 
contracts offered by nonprofit health service plan corporations 
regulated under chapter 62C, but does not apply to policies 
designed primarily to provide coverage payable on a per diem, 
fixed indemnity or nonexpense incurred basis, or policies that 
provide only accident coverage. 
    Subd. 2.  [REQUIRED COVERAGE.] Every policy, plan, 
certificate, or contract referred to in subdivision 1 issued or 
renewed after August 1, 1988, must provide coverage for routine 
screening procedures for cancer, including mammograms and Pap 
smears, when ordered or performed by a physician in accordance 
with the standard practice of medicine. 
    Sec. 3.  [APPLICABILITY.] 
    Section 1 applies to all individual and group policies or 
subscriber contracts that are issued or renewed after the 
effective date. 
    Approved April 4, 1988