A. A group health plan that is delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state that covers essential health benefits or covers prosthetic and custom orthotic devices shall consider these benefits habilitative or rehabilitative benefits for purposes of state or federal requirements on essential health benefits coverage.

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B. When performing a utilization review for a request for coverage of prosthetic or orthotic benefits, an insurer shall apply the most recent version of evidence-based treatment and fit criteria as recognized by relevant clinical specialists or their organizations. Such standards may be named by the superintendent in rule.

C. An insurer shall render utilization review determinations in a nondiscriminatory manner and shall not deny coverage for habilitative or rehabilitative benefits, including prosthetics or orthotics, solely based on an insured’s actual or perceived disability.

D. An insurer shall not deny a prosthetic or orthotic benefit for an individual with limb loss or absence that would otherwise be covered for a non-disabled person seeking medical or surgical intervention to restore or maintain the ability to perform the same physical activity.

E. A health benefits plan that is delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state that offers coverage for prosthetics and custom orthotic devices shall include language describing an insured’s rights pursuant to Subsections C and D of this section in its evidence of coverage and any benefit denial letters.

F. Prosthetic and custom orthotic device coverage shall not be subject to separate financial requirements that are applicable only with respect to that coverage. A group health plan may impose cost sharing on prosthetic or custom orthotic devices; provided that any cost-sharing requirements shall not be more restrictive than the cost-sharing requirements applicable to the plan’s coverage for inpatient physician and surgical services.

G. A group health plan that provides coverage for prosthetic or orthotic services shall ensure access to medically necessary clinical care and to prosthetic and custom orthotic devices and technology from not less than two distinct prosthetic and custom orthotic providers in the managed care plan’s provider network located in the state. In the event that medically necessary covered orthotics and prosthetics are not available from an in-network provider, the insurer shall provide processes to refer a member to an out-of-network provider and shall fully reimburse the out-of-network provider at a mutually agreed upon rate less member cost sharing determined on an in-network basis.

H. If coverage for prosthetic or custom orthotic devices is provided, payment shall be made for the replacement of a prosthetic or custom orthotic device or for the replacement of any part of such devices, without regard to continuous use or useful lifetime restrictions, if an ordering health care provider determines that the provision of a replacement device, or a replacement part of such a device, is necessary because of any of the following:

(1)     a change in the physiological condition of the patient;

(2)     an irreparable change in the condition of the device or in a part of the device; or

(3)     the condition of the device, or the part of the device, requires repairs and the cost of such repairs would be more than sixty percent of the cost of a replacement device or of the part being replaced.

I. Confirmation from a prescribing health care provider may be required if the prosthetic or custom orthotic device or part being replaced is less than three years old.

J. The provisions of this section do not apply to excepted benefits plans subject to the Short-Term Health Plan and Excepted Benefit Act [N.M. Stat. Ann. Chapter 59A, Article 23G].