§ 27-19-35. Diabetes treatment. (a) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state which provides medical coverage that includes coverage for physician services in a physician's office, and every policy which provides major medical or similar comprehensive-type coverage, shall include coverage for the following equipment and supplies for the treatment of insulin treated diabetes, non-insulin treated diabetes, and gestational diabetes when medically appropriate and prescribed by a physician: blood glucose monitors and blood glucose monitors for the legally blind, test strips for glucose monitors and/or visual reading, insulin, injection aids, cartridges for the legally blind, syringes, insulin pumps and appurtenances to the pumps, insulin infusion devices, and oral agents for controlling blood sugar and therapeutic/molded shoes for the prevention of amputation. Upon the approval of new or improved diabetes equipment and supplies by the Food and Drug Administration, all policies governed by this chapter shall guarantee coverage of new diabetes equipment and supplies when medically appropriate and prescribed by a physician. The policies shall also include coverage, when medically necessary, for diabetes self-management education to ensure that persons with diabetes are instructed in the self-management and treatment of their diabetes, including information on the nutritional management of diabetes. The coverage for self-management education and education relating to medical nutrition therapy shall be limited to medically necessary visits upon the diagnoses of diabetes, where a physician diagnosis a significant change in the patient's symptoms or conditions which necessitate changes in a patient's self-management, or where reeducation or refresher training is necessary. This education, when medically necessary and prescribed by a physician, may be provided only by the physician or upon his or her referral by an appropriately licensed and certified health care provider and may be conducted in group settings. Coverage for self-management education and education relating to medical nutrition therapy shall also include home visits when medically necessary.

(b) Benefit plans offered by a hospital service corporation may impose copayment and/or deductibles for the benefits mandated by this chapter, however, in no instance shall the copayment or deductible amount be greater than the copayment or deductible amount imposed for other supplies, equipment, or physician office visits. Benefits for services under this chapter shall be reimbursed in accordance with the respective principles and mechanisms of reimbursement for each insurer, hospital, or medical service corporation, or health maintenance organization.

History of Section. (P.L. 1996, ch. 106, § 2; P.L. 2002, ch. 292, § 37.)