HB231: HB231 Insurance; coverage of complementary and alternative therapies under certain conditions; provide

25 LC 52 0641 House Bill 231 By: Representatives Neal of the 79th, Au of the 50th, and Cannon of the 58th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1 insurance generally, so as to provide for insurance coverage of complementary and2 alternative therapies under certain conditions; to provide for insurance coverage of such3 therapies when provided by a licensed physician, acupuncturist, chiropractor, or massage4 therapist; to provide for an optional endorsement to cover such therapies provided by a5 qualified herbalist, homeopath, or naturopath when ordered by a licensed physician; to6 provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective7 date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9 SECTION 1.10 Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotate d, relating to insurance11 generally, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:12 "33-24-59.34.13 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:14 (1) 'Acupuncture' has the same meaning as provided in Code Section 43-34-62.15 H. B. 231 - 1 - 25 LC 52 0641 (2) 'Acupuncturist' means an individual who is currently licensed or otherwise authorized16 to practice acupuncture in this state under Article 3 of Chapter 34 of Title 43.17 (3) 'Chiropractic' has the same meaning as provided in Code Section 43-9-1.18 (4) 'Chiropractor' means an individual who is currently licensed or otherwise authorized19 to provide chiropractic care in this state under Chapter 9 of Title 43.20 (5) 'Health benefit policy' has the same meaning as provided i n Code Section21 33-24-59.33. Such term shall not mean a disability income poli cy, a long-term care22 insurance policy, a Medicare supplement policy, a health insurance policy written as part23 of workers' compensation equivalent coverage, a specified disea se policy, a credit24 insurance policy, a hospital indemnity policy, a limited accident policy, or other type of25 limited accident and sickness insurance policy. Such term shall not include a self-funded,26 employer sponsored health benefit plan subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the27 Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. Section 1001, et seq.28 (6) 'Herbalism' means the study or practice of the medicinal a nd therapeutic use of29 plants.30 (7) 'Herbalist' means a qualified individual who engages in the practice of herbalism.31 (8) 'Homeopath' means a qualified individual who engages in th e practice of32 homeopathy.33 (9) 'Homeopathy' means the treatment of disease by minute doses of natural substances34 that in a healthy person would produce symptoms of disease.35 (10) 'Insurer' means an entity, including a healthcare corpora tion, health maintenance36 organization, managed care organization, preferred provider organization, or any other37 entity providing a health insurance plan, a health benefit plan, or healthcare services, that38 is subject to the insurance laws and regulations of this state, or subject to the jurisdiction39 of the Commissioner, that contracts, offers to contract, or ent ers into an agreement to40 provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of healthcare services.41 (11) 'Massage therapist' has the same meaning as provided in Code Section 43-24A-3.42 H. B. 231 - 2 - 25 LC 52 0641 (12) 'Massage therapy' has the same meaning as provided in Code Section 43-24A-3.43 (13) 'Naturopath' means a qualified individual who engages in the practice of44 naturopathy.45 (14) 'Naturopathy' means a distinct system of noninvasive heal th practice in which46 neither surgery nor drugs are used, consisting instead of asses sment, education,47 counseling, and natural health modalities.48 (15) 'Physician' means a person licensed to practice medicine pursuant to Article 2 of49 Chapter 34 of Title 43.50 (16) 'Qualified' means having been certified by a recognized accrediting body acceptable51 to the Commissioner as established by rule.52 (b) Every health benefit policy that is issued, delivered, issued for delivery, amended, or53 renewed in this state shall include, either as part of or as a required endorsement to such54 policy, coverage for complementary and alternative therapies pr ovided by a licensed55 physician, acupuncturist, chiropractor, or massage therapist.56 (c) Every health benefit policy that is issued, delivered, issued for delivery, amended, or57 renewed in this state shall include, either as part of or as an optional endorsement to such58 policy, coverage for complementary and alternative therapies pr ovided by a qualified59 herbalist, homeopath, or naturopath, provided that such therapy was ordered by a licensed60 physician.61 (d) The endorsements provided in subsections (b) and (c) of th is Code section may be62 subject to such exclusions, reductions, or other limitations as to coverages, deductibles, or63 coinsurance provisions as may be approved by the Commissioner.64 (e) Nothing contained in this Code section shall be deemed to prohibit an insurer from65 issuing or continuing to issue an health benefit policy that provides benefits greater than66 the minimum benefits required to be made available under this Code section.67 (f) The Commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the68 provisions of this Code section."69 H. B. 231 - 3 - 25 LC 52 0641 SECTION 2.70 This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2025, and shall appl y to all policies issued,71 delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on and after such date.72 SECTION 3.73 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.74 H. B. 231 - 4 -