E.__A marriage and family therapist licensed as a marriage and family therapist in this State; and

F.__A licensed pastoral counselor licensed as a pastoral counselor in this State.

3.__Mental health services provided by counseling professionals.__Except as provided in subsection 1 with regard to reimbursement of clinical professional counselors, pastoral counselors and marriage and family therapists licensed in this State, an insurer that issues group health care contracts providing coverage for mental health services shall make available coverage for those services when performed by a counseling professional who is licensed by the State pursuant to Title 32, chapter 119 to assess and treat interpersonal and intrapersonal problems, has at least a master's degree in counseling or a related field from an accredited educational institution and has been employed as a counselor for at least 2 years.__Any contract providing coverage for the services of counseling professionals pursuant to this section may be subject to any reasonable limitations, maximum benefits, coinsurance, deductibles or exclusion provisions applicable to overall benefits under the contract.__This subsection applies to all policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State.__For purposes of this subsection, all contracts are deemed renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

Sec. A-41. 24-A MRSA §2844, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1997, c. 777, Pt. B, §3, is further amended to read:

2. Medicaid and Cub Care programs. Insurers may not consider the availability or eligibility for medical assistance under 42 United States Code, Section 13969, referred to as "Medicaid," or Title 22, section 3174-R 3174-T, referred to as the "Cub Care program," when considering coverage eligibility or benefit calculations for insureds and covered family members.

A. To the extent that payment for coverage expenses has been made under the Medicaid program or the Cub Care program for health care items or services furnished to an individual, the State is considered to have acquired the rights of the insured or family member to payment by the