Rhode Island General Laws 27-19-53. Mandatory coverage for certain lyme disease treatments
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 the treatment may be characterized as unproven, experimental, or investigational in nature.
History of Section.
P.L. 2003, ch. 113, § 4; P.L. 2003, ch. 114, § 4; P.L. 2004, ch. 34, § 3; P.L. 2004, ch. 35, § 3.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 27-19-53
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Medical services: as used in this chapter means professional services rendered by physicians, dentists, podiatrists, or other providers of health services for any medical, dental, surgical, and other health services as may lawfully be rendered by them to subscribers; the term includes appliances, drugs, medicines, supplies, and nursing care necessary in connection with those services, or the expense indemnity for those services, appliances, drugs, medicines, supplies, and care, as may be specified in any nonprofit medical service plan. See Rhode Island General Laws 27-19-17