§ 38a-526 — Coverage for services of physician assistants and certain nurses.

(a) For the purposes of this section: (1) “Certified nurse practitioner” means any registered nurse licensed under chapter 378 who has completed a formal educational nurse practitioner program and is certified by the American Nurses' Association, the National Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and Associates or the Nurses' Association of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; (2) “Certified psychiatric-mental health clinical nurse specialist” means any registered nurse licensed under chapter 378 who has completed a formal educational program as a psychiatric-mental health clinical nurse specialist and is certified by the American Nurses' Association; (3) “Certified nurse-midwife” means any individual certified as nurse-midwife pursuant to sections 20-86a to 20-86e , inclusive; (4) “Physician assistant” means an individual licensed pursuant to section 20-12b . (b) Each group health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (6), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this state shall provide coverage for the services of physician assistants, certified nurse practitioners, certified psychiatric-mental health clinical nurse specialists and certified nurse-midwives if such services are within the individual's area of professional competence as established by education and licensure or certification and are currently reimbursed when rendered by any other licensed health care provider. Subject to the provisions of chapter 378 and sections 20-86a to 20-86e , inclusive, no insurer, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation or health care center may require signature, referral or employment by any other health care provider as a condition of reimbursement, provided no insurer, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation or health care center may be required to pay for duplicative services actually rendered by both a physician assistant or a certified registered nurse and any other health care provider. The payment of such benefits shall be subject to any policy provisions which apply to other licensed health practitioners providing the same services. Nothing in this section may be construed as permitting (1) any registered nurse to perform or provide services beyond the scope of practice permitted in chapter 378 and sections 20-86a to 20-86e , inclusive, or (2) any physician assistant to perform or provide services beyond the scope of practice permitted in chapter 370. See Sec. 38a-499 for similar provisions re individual policies.

Legislative History

(P.A. 90-243, S. 110; P.A. 95-74, S. 8, 9; P.A. 11-19, S. 48.) History: P.A. 95-74 added physician assistants to those whose services must be included in coverage and defined “physician assistant”, effective July 1, 1995 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (b) “physicians' assistants” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “physician assistants” for consistency); P.A. 11-19 inserted “amended or continued” and made technical changes in Subsec. (b), effective January 1, 2012.