Notwithstanding any other provision of P.L. 1940, c. 74 (C. 17:48A-1 et seq.), benefits shall not be denied to any eligible individual for eligible services when the services are performed or rendered to those individuals by a registered professional nurse, within the scope of the nurse’s practice, and the nurse is not being paid a salary by a health care provider for the services so performed. The benefits may be payable subject to deductible or coinsurance provisions, and a contract providing such benefits may contain a limitation on the number of benefit days payable under the contract.

This act shall exclude salaried services which are already reimbursed and shall not be construed to affect or impair hospital procedures for billing in-hospital nursing care. The practice of nursing shall be deemed to be within the provisions of P.L. 1940, c. 74 (C. 17:48A-1 et seq.) and duly registered professional nurses shall have those privileges and benefits in the scope of their practice as are afforded thereunder to licensed physicians and surgeons in the scope of their practice.

L.1983, c. 481, s. 1.