Sec. 7. 24 MRSA §2329, sub-§10, as repealed and replaced by PL 1987, c. 480, §4, is amended to read:

10. Application; expiration. The requirements of this section shall apply to all policies and any certificates or contracts executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State on or after January 1, 1984. The requirements of subsection 4-A apply to all policies and contracts executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State on or after January 1, 2000. For purposes of this section, all contracts shall be are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

Sec. 8. 24-A MRSA §2749-D is enacted to read:

§2749-D.__Equitable health care for alcoholism and drug

dependency treatment

1.__Definitions.__As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A.__"Outpatient care" means care rendered by a state- licensed, approved or certified detoxification, residential treatment or outpatient program, or partial hospitalization program on a periodic basis, including, but not limited to, patient diagnosis, assessment and treatment, individual, family and group counseling and educational and support services.

B.__"Residential treatment" means services at a facility that provides care 24 hours daily to one or more patients, including, but not limited to: room and board; medical, nursing and dietary services; patient diagnosis, assessment and treatment; individual, family and group counseling; and educational and support services, including a designated unit of a licensed health care facility providing any and all other services specified in this paragraph to patients with the illness of alcoholism or drug dependency.

C.__"Treatment plan" means a written plan initiated at the time of admission, approved by a Doctor of Medicine, Doctor