1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to insurance; health; requiring 
  1.3             nondiscriminatory coverage of diagnostic or surgical 
  1.4             procedures of the bones and joints of the jaw and 
  1.5             facial region; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, 
  1.6             section 62A.043, by adding a subdivision. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 62A.043, is 
  1.9   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.10     Subd. 4.  A health carrier, as defined in section 62L.02, 
  1.11  subdivision 16, that provides coverage for any diagnostic or 
  1.12  surgical procedure involving bones or joints of the skeleton 
  1.13  shall not discriminate against coverage or reimbursement for any 
  1.14  similar diagnostic or surgical procedure involving bones or 
  1.15  joints of the jaw and facial region, if, under accepted medical 
  1.16  standards, the procedure or surgery is medically necessary to 
  1.17  treat conditions caused by congenital or developmental 
  1.18  deformity, disease, or injury.  The health carrier shall 
  1.19  demonstrate that enrollees have access to specialized treatment 
  1.20  expertise when the treatment is medically or clinically 
  1.21  indicated in the professional judgment of the treating health 
  1.22  professional, in consultation with the enrollee.