33-24-59

Code Resources

Georgia Resources
Georgia Website
Georgia Governor
Georgia Legislature
Georgia Courts

Search this Code
in Google Scholar

on the Web
Google Web Search
MSN Web Search
Yahoo! Web Search

in the News
Google News Search
Google News Archive Search
Yahoo! News Search

in the Blogs
BlawgSearch.com Search
Google Blog Search
Technorati Blog Search

in other Databases
Google Book Search

33-24-59.
(a) The General Assembly finds and declares that the specialty of obstetrics and gynecology is devoted to health care of women throughout their lifetimes.
(b)(1) As used in this Code section, the term 'health benefit policy' means any individual or group plan, policy, or contract for health care services issued, delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state by a health care corporation, health maintenance organization, accident and sickness insurer, fraternal benefit society, nonprofit hospital service corporation, nonprofit medical service corporation, or similar entity.
(2) Any accident and sickness policies, plans, or contracts which contain no provisions which require referrals from another physician for coverage of the services of an obstetrician or gynecologist shall not be required to give the notice required in subsection (d) of this Code section.
(c) No health benefit policy which is issued, delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on or after July 1, 1996, shall require as a condition to the coverage of services of an obstetrician or gynecologist who is within the health benefit policy network of health care providers that an enrollee, subscriber, or insured first obtain a referral from another physician; provided, however, that the services covered by this subsection shall be limited to those services defined by the published recommendations of the Accreditation Council For Graduate Medical Education for training as an obstetrician or gynecologist, including but not limited to diagnosis, treatment, and referral.
(d) Each health benefit policy which is issued, delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on or after July 1, 1996, shall disclose to enrollees, subscribers, or insureds, in clear, accurate language, such person´s right to direct access to obstetricians and gynecologists as provided in this Code section. Such information shall be disclosed to each such person at the time of enrollment or otherwise first becoming an enrollee, subscriber, or insured, and at least annually thereafter.