1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to insurance; requiring equal access to acupuncture services by certain 
1.3 	group policies and subscriber contracts; requiring claim determinations regarding 
1.4 	acupuncture services to be made or reviewed by acupuncture practitioners; 
1.5 	requiring reporting on referrals to acupuncture practitioners and reimbursement 
1.6 	rates;amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 62A.15, subdivision 4, by 
1.7 	adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
1.8 	chapter 62D.
1.9 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.10 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 62A.15, is amended by adding a 
1.11 	subdivision to read:
1.12 		Subd. 3b.Acupuncture services. All benefits provided by a policy or contract 
1.13 	referred to in subdivision 1 relating to expenses for acupuncture services that are provided 
1.14 	by a physician must also include acupuncture treatment and services of a licensed 
1.15 	acupuncture practitioner to the extent that the acupuncture services and treatment are 
1.16 	within the scope of acupuncture practitioner licensure.
1.17 	This subdivision is intended to provide equal access to benefits for insureds and 
1.18 	subscribers who choose to directly obtain treatment for illness or injury from a licensed 
1.19 	acupuncture practitioner, as long as the treatment falls within the scope of practice of the 
1.20 	licensed acupuncture practitioner.
1.21 	This subdivision is not intended to change or add to the benefits provided for in 
1.22 	these policies or contracts.

1.23 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 62A.15, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
1.24 		Subd. 4.Denial of benefits. (a) No carrier referred to in subdivision 1 may, in the 
1.25 	payment of claims to employees in this state, deny benefits payable for services covered 
2.1 	by the policy or contract if the services are lawfully performed by a licensed chiropractor, 
2.2 	licensed optometrist, or a registered nurse meeting the requirements of subdivision 3a, or a 
2.3 	licensed acupuncture practitioner.
2.4 	(b) When carriers referred to in subdivision 1 make claim determinations concerning 
2.5 	the appropriateness, quality, or utilization of chiropractic health care for Minnesotans, any 
2.6 	of these determinations that are made by health care professionals must be made by, or 
2.7 	under the direction of, or subject to the review of licensed doctors of chiropractic.
2.8 	(c) When a carrier referred to in subdivision 1 makes a denial of payment claim 
2.9 	determination concerning the appropriateness, quality, or utilization of acupuncture 
2.10 	services for individuals in this state, a denial of payment claim determination that is 
2.11 	made by a health professional must be made by, under the direction of, or subject to the 
2.12 	review of a licensed acupuncture practitioner.

2.13 	Sec. 3. [62D.107] EQUAL ACCESS TO ACUPUNCTURE SERVICES.
2.14 		Subdivision 1.Coverage. All benefits provided by a health maintenance contract 
2.15 	relating to expenses incurred for acupuncture services that are provided by a physician, 
2.16 	must also include acupuncture treatment and services of a licensed acupuncture 
2.17 	practitioner to the extent that the acupuncture services and treatment are within the scope 
2.18 	of acupuncture practitioner licensure. This subdivision ensures equal access to benefits for 
2.19 	enrollees who choose to directly obtain treatment for illness and injury from a licensed 
2.20 	acupuncture practitioner, as long as the treatment falls within the scope of practice of the 
2.21 	licensed acupuncture practitioner.
2.22 	This subdivision is not intended to change or add to the benefits provided for in 
2.23 	these policies or contracts.
2.24 		Subd. 2.Denial of benefits. (a) In the payment of claims for enrollees in this state, 
2.25 	no health maintenance organization may deny payment for acupuncture services covered 
2.26 	by an enrollee's health maintenance contract if the services are lawfully performed by a 
2.27 	licensed acupuncture practitioner.
2.28 	(b) When a health maintenance organization makes a denial of payment claim 
2.29 	determination concerning the appropriateness, quality, or utilization of acupuncture 
2.30 	services for enrollees in this state, the determination must be made by, under the direction 
2.31 	of, or subject to the review of a licensed acupuncture practitioner.