HB1317_S_Cmte_Amend

SECTION 1. Section 83-41-211, Mississippi Code of 1972, is reenacted and amended as follows:

83-41-211. 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 diagnosis and treatment of mental, nervous or emotional disorders only which are within the lawful scope of practice of a duly licensed psychologist as defined in Section 73-31-3, within the lawful scope of practice of a duly licensed professional counselor as defined in Section 73-30-3, * * * within the lawful scope of practice of a duly licensed clinical social worker as defined in Section 73-53-3, or within the lawful scope of practice of a duly licensed marriage and family therapist as defined in Section 73-54-5, the insured or other person entitled to benefits under such policy shall be entitled to reimbursement for such services, whether such services are performed by a duly licensed physician or by a duly licensed psychologist, by a duly licensed professional counselor, by a duly licensed clinical social worker or by a duly licensed marriage and family therapist, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in any statute or in such policy, plan or contract. Duly licensed psychologists shall be entitled to participate in such policies, plans or contracts providing for the diagnosis and treatment of mental, nervous or emotional disorders only as authorized by Section 73-31-3. A duly licensed professional counselor shall be entitled to participate in such policies, plans or contracts providing for the diagnosis and treatment of mental, nervous or emotional disorders only as authorized by Section 73-30-3. A duly licensed clinical social worker shall be entitled to participate in such policies, plans or contracts providing for the diagnosis and treatment of mental, nervous or emotional disorders only as authorized by Section 73-53-3. A duly licensed marriage and family therapist shall be entitled to participate in such policies, plans or contracts providing for the diagnosis and treatment of mental, nervous or emotional disorders only as authorized by Section 73-54-5 et seq. The addition of marriage and family therapists as providers herein is intended to only allow them to treat mental, nervous or emotional disorders as treated by other providers, to the extent that marriage and family therapists are qualified to treat such disorders. Notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, the scope or definition of mental, nervous or emotional disorders shall remain the same and shall not be expanded by the addition of marriage and family therapists as allowable providers.

SECTION 2. The following shall be codified within Chapter 15, Title 25, Mississippi Code of 1972:

25-15-__. Whenever the plan provides for reimbursement for any diagnosis and treatment of mental, nervous or emotional disorders only which are within the lawful scope of practice of a duly licensed psychologist as defined in Section 73-31-3, within the lawful scope of practice of a duly licensed professional counselor as defined in Section 73-30-3, within the lawful scope of practice of a duly licensed clinical social worker as defined in Section 73-53-3, or within the lawful scope of practice of a duly licensed marriage and family therapist as defined in Section 73-54-5, the insured or other person entitled to benefits under the plan shall be entitled to reimbursement for such services, whether such services are performed by a duly licensed physician, by a duly licensed psychologist, by a duly licensed professional counselor, by a duly licensed clinical social worker or by a duly licensed marriage and family therapist, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in any statute or in the plan. A duly licensed psychologist shall be entitled to participate in such plan providing for the diagnosis and treatment of mental, nervous or emotional disorders only as authorized by Section 73-31-3. A duly licensed professional counselor shall be entitled to participate in such plan providing for the diagnosis and treatment of mental, nervous or emotional disorders only as authorized by Section 73-30-3. A duly licensed clinical social worker shall be entitled to participate in such plan providing for the diagnosis and treatment of mental, nervous or emotional disorders only as authorized by Section 73-53-3. A duly licensed marriage and family therapist shall be entitled to participate in such plan providing for the diagnosis and treatment of mental, nervous or emotional disorders only as authorized by Section 73-54-5 et seq.

The addition of marriage and family therapists as providers herein is intended to only allow them to treat mental, nervous or emotional disorders as treated by other providers, to the extent that marriage and family therapists are qualified to treat such disorders. Notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, the scope or definition of mental, nervous or emotional disorders shall remain the same and shall not be expanded by the addition of marriage and family therapists as allowable providers.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.