1. a. Every individual or group hospital service corporation contract that provides hospital or medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1938, c.366 (C. 17:48-1 et seq.) or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance on or after the effective date of this act shall provide coverage for a minimum of 72 hours of inpatient care following a modified radical mastectomy and a minimum of 48 hours of inpatient care following a simple mastectomy. The contract shall not require a health care provider to obtain authorization from the hospital service corporation for prescribing 72 or 48 hours, as appropriate, of inpatient care as provided for in this section.

The provisions of this section shall not be construed to: require a patient to receive inpatient care for 72 or 48 hours, as appropriate, if the patient in consultation with the patient’s physician determines that a shorter length of stay is medically appropriate; or relieve a patient or a patient’s physician, if appropriate, of any notification requirements to the hospital service corporation under the contract.

The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other sickness under the contract.

The provisions of this section shall apply to all contracts in which the hospital service corporation has reserved the right to change the premium.

b. The Commissioner of Banking and Insurance shall adopt regulations pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.) to implement the provisions of this section.

L.1997,c.149,s.1.