§ 5-10-8-22 — Coverage for chronic pain management

(a) As used in this section, "chronic pain"
means pain that:
(1) persists beyond the usual course of an acute disease or healing
of an injury; or
(2) may be associated with an acute or chronic pathologic process
that causes continuous or intermittent pain for a period of months
or years.
(b) As used in this section, "chronic pain management" means
evidence based health care products and services intended to relieve
chronic pain that has lasted for at least three (3) months. The term
includes:
(1) prescription drugs;
(2) physical therapy;
(3) occupational therapy;
(4) chiropractic care; and
(5) osteopathic manipulative treatment.
(c) As used in this section, "covered individual" means an individual
entitled to coverage under a state employee health plan.
(d) As used in this section, "state employee health plan" means the
following:
(1) A self-insurance program established under section 7(b) of
this chapter.
(2) A contract for prepaid health care services entered into under
section 7(c) of this chapter.
The term does not include a dental plan.
(e) A state employee health plan must provide coverage for
medically necessary chronic pain management prescribed by a covered
individual's treating practitioner.
(f) The coverage required by this section may not be subject to
annual or lifetime limitation, deductible, copayment, or coinsurance
provisions that are more restrictive than the annual or lifetime
limitation, deductible, copayment, or coinsurance provisions that apply
generally under the state employee health plan.

Legislative History

As added by P.L.149-2019, SEC.1.