House Bill No. 297

Introduced By _______________________________________________________________________________

A Bill for an Act entitled: "An Act providing an insured person's access to dermatological services without having to first obtain a referral from a primary care physician as a condition of coverage

."

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Montana:

NEW SECTION. Section 1.  Direct access to dermatological services -- definitions. (1) As used in this section, the following definitions apply:

(a) "Dermatological services" means services ordinarily and customarily rendered by a physician specializing in the practice of dermatology.

(b) "Health benefit policy" means an individual or group disability insurance plan, policy, or contract issued, delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state by a health care insurer or a nonprofit hospital or medical service corporation.

(c) "Primary care physician" means primary care physician as defined in 39-71-1105.

(2) A health benefit policy may not require as a condition to the coverage of dermatological services that an enrollee, subscriber, or insured person first obtain a referral from a primary care physician.

NEW SECTION. Section 2.  Saving clause. [This act] does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, or proceedings that were begun before [the effective date of this act].

NEW SECTION. Section 3.  Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 33, chapter 22, part 1, and the provisions of Title 33, chapter 22, part 1, apply to [section 1].

-END-