HP0474, LD 682, item 1, An Act To Require Health Insurers To Provide Coverage for Nutritional Wellness and Illness Prevention Measures and Products

An Act To Require Health Insurers To Provide Coverage for Nutritional Wellness and Illness Prevention Measures and Products

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 24-A MRSA §4320-I is enacted to read:

§ 4320-I. Coverage for nutritional wellness and illness prevention

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

A. "Dietary supplement" has the same meaning as in the federal Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994.

B. "Nutritional wellness and illness prevention measures" means nutritional measures and products, including dietary supplements, whose primary purposes are to enhance health, improve nutritional intake, strengthen the immune system, cleanse the body of toxins, address specific health needs and aid in resisting disease.

2. Required coverage. A carrier shall provide coverage and incentives and reimburse for nutritional wellness and illness prevention measures that have been shown to be beneficial to an enrollee's health when used as directed by the manufacturer or manufacturer's representative and are recommended by the enrollee's physician. The carrier shall provide incentives including lower copayments and other cost reductions for enrollees who participate in nutritional wellness and illness prevention measures.

3. Application. The requirements of this section apply to all policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State on or after January 1, 2014. For purposes of this section, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

summary

The purpose of this bill is to improve health, reduce health care usage and costs and help prevent disease through nutritional wellness and illness prevention measures and allow for nonpharmacological health care alternatives for enrollees who choose them. The bill requires that health insurance policies provide coverage for nutritional wellness and illness prevention measures that are shown to be beneficial to the enrollee and are recommended by the enrollee's physician. The bill applies to all individual and group policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2014.

HP0474 LD 682	Session - 126th Maine Legislature		LR 1564 Item 1
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