Senate Bill 2459

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THE RIGHT OF A BENEFICIARY OR INSURED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR SERVICES PERFORMED BY LICENSED ATHLETIC TRAINERS WITHIN THE LAWFUL SCOPE OF THEIR PRACTICE; TO PROVIDE THE INSURED A FREEDOM OF CHOICE OF ATHLETIC TRAINER AND PLACE OF SERVICES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Whenever any policy of insurance or any medical service plan or hospital service contract or hospital and medical service contract issued in this state provides for reimbursement for any service which is within the lawful scope of practice of a duly licensed athletic trainer as defined in Section 73-55-3(c), then such service may be performed by a duly licensed athletic trainer, and the insured or other person entitled to benefits under such policy, plan or contract shall be entitled to reimbursement for such services. The insured shall have the right to choose the place where the service is to be performed as well as the athletic trainer to perform such service, provided that such service shall be performed in the athletic trainer's clinical setting or regular place of business. A duly licensed athletic trainer shall be entitled to participate in such policies, plans or contracts only as authorized by Section 73-55-9.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2003.