HCS/HB 1509 - This act modifies the law regarding health insurance coverage for chiropractic care. The act mandates that health benefit plans to allow an enrollee direct access to a participating chiropractor of the enrollee's choice within the plan's network for at least 26 visits per policy period. Under current law, enrollees may have access to chiropractic care for a total of 26 visits. The act prohibits a health care plan from denying medically necessary and clinically appropriate chiropractic care for additional diagnostic tests or treatment, provided the attending chiropractic physician submits documentation supporting the necessity for additional tests or continued treatment. The act provides that the chiropractic care mandate shall not apply to health benefit plans that are individually underwritten unless the individually written coverage is issued by a HMO.
STEPHEN WITTE