§ 15-708. Nurse anesthetists

   (a) "Nurse anesthetist" defined. -- In this section, "nurse anesthetist" means a registered nurse who is certified as a nurse anesthetist by:

   (1) the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists; or

   (2) the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists.

(b) Scope of section. -- This section applies to each individual, group, or blanket health insurance policy, contract, or certificate of an insurer or nonprofit health service plan that:

   (1) (i) is issued or delivered in the State;

      (ii) is issued to a group that is incorporated or has a main office in the State; or

      (iii) covers individuals who reside or work in the State;

   (2) is issued, renewed, amended, or reissued on or after July 1, 1984; and

   (3) if issued by an insurer, is written on an expense-incurred basis.

(c) Reimbursement for services. -- Notwithstanding any other provision of a policy, contract, or certificate subject to this section, if the policy, contract, or certificate provides for reimbursement for a service that is within the lawful scope of practice of a nurse anesthetist, the insured or any other person covered by the policy, contract, or certificate is entitled to reimbursement for the service regardless of whether the service is performed by a physician or nurse anesthetist.

(d) Employment by physician not required. -- A policy that provides benefits under this section for services rendered by a nurse anesthetist may not require, as a condition for the payment of benefits, that the nurse anesthetist be employed by a physician.

(e) Utilization of benefits subject to peer review. -- The utilization of health insurance benefits provided under this section for services rendered by a nurse anesthetist is subject to review by a peer review committee appointed by the State Board of Nursing.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 48A, § 354Y, 470T, 477Z; 1997, ch. 35, § 2.