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HB 93 - Insurance; health care providers; include athletic trainers

Williams, Robin L (114th)	Heard, Keith G (89th)

Status Summary	HC:	Ins	SC:	I&L	FR:	01/14/99	LA:	04/19/99	Signed by Governor

First Reader Summary

A BILL to amend Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance, so as to include athletic trainers within the definition of health care providers for purposes of managed health care plans; to provide for reimbursement under insurance policies for services within the scope of practice of athletic trainers; and for other purposes.

Code Sections - 33-24-27.2

HB 93                                                HB 93/AP 
 
      H. B. No. 93 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) 
      By:  Representatives Williams of the 114th and Heard of the 
      89th 
 
 
                        A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 
                               AN ACT 
 
 
  1- 1  To amend Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, 
  1- 2  relating to insurance, so as to include athletic trainers 
  1- 3  within the definition of health care providers for purposes 
  1- 4  of managed health care plans; to provide for reimbursement 
  1- 5  under insurance policies for services within the scope of 
  1- 6  practice of athletic trainers; to repeal conflicting laws; 
  1- 7  and for other purposes. 
 
  1- 8       BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: 
 
  1- 9                           SECTION 1. 
 
  1-10  Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating 
  1-11  to insurance, is amended by striking paragraph (3) of Code 
  1-12  Section 33-20A-3, relating to definitions relative to 
  1-13  managed health care plans, and inserting in lieu thereof the 
  1-14  following: 
 
  1-15      "(3) 'Health care provider' or 'provider' means any 
  1-16      physician, dentist, podiatrist, pharmacist, optometrist, 
  1-17      psychologist, clinical social worker, advance practice 
  1-18      nurse, registered optician, licensed professional 
  1-19      counselor, physical therapist, marriage and family 
  1-20      therapist, chiropractor, athletic trainer qualified 
  1-21      pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of 
  1-22      Code Section 43-5-8, occupational therapist, speech 
  1-23      language pathologist, audiologist, dietitian, or 
  1-24      physician's assistant." 
 
  1-25                           SECTION 2. 
 
  1-26  Said title is further amended by adding a new Code Section 
  1-27  33-24-27.2 to read as follows: 
 
  1-28    "33-24-27.2. 
 
  1-29    (a) Notwithstanding any provisions in policies or 
  1-30    contracts which might be construed to the contrary, from 
  1-31    and after July 1, 1999, all individual, group, or blanket 
  1-32    policies of accident and sickness insurance and individual 
  1-33    or group service or indemnity contracts issued by 
 
 
                                 -1- 
 
 
 
  2- 1    nonprofit corporations or by health care corporations 
  2- 2    which are issued, delivered, issued for delivery, amended, 
  2- 3    or renewed in this state and which provide coverage for 
  2- 4    services which are within the lawful scope of practice of 
  2- 5    an athletic trainer qualified pursuant to paragraph (1) or 
  2- 6    (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 43-5-8 shall be 
  2- 7    deemed to provide that any person covered under such 
  2- 8    policies or contracts shall be entitled to receive 
  2- 9    reimbursement for services under such policies or 
  2-10    contracts regardless of whether such services are rendered 
  2-11    by a duly licensed doctor of medicine or by an athletic 
  2-12    trainer qualified pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of 
  2-13    subsection (a) of Code Section 43-5-8.  Nothing contained 
  2-14    herein shall require an insurance to offer such coverage. 
 
  2-15    (b) This Code section shall not be construed so as to 
  2-16    impair the obligation of any policy or contract which is 
  2-17    in existence prior to July 1, 1999." 
 
  2-18                           SECTION 3. 
 
  2-19  All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are 
  2-20  repealed. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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