Maryland Insurance Section 15-832

CAUTION: READ FULL TEXT OF SECTION FOR SPECIAL NOTE

// SPECIAL NOTE: THE FOLLOWING SECTION WAS CHANGED BY CHAPTER 59 OF 2003 AND WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30, 2006 //

      (a)      In this section, "mastectomy" means the surgical removal of all or part of a breast as a result of breast cancer.

      (b)      This section applies to:

            (1)      insurers and nonprofit health service plans that provide inpatient hospital, medical, or surgical benefits to individuals or groups on an expense-incurred basis under health insurance policies or contracts that are issued or delivered in the State; and

            (2)      health maintenance organizations that provide inpatient hospital, medical, or surgical benefits to individuals or groups under contracts that are issued or delivered in the State.

      (c)      For a patient who receives less than 48 hours of inpatient hospitalization following a mastectomy or the surgical removal of a testicle, or who undergoes a mastectomy or the surgical removal of a testicle on an outpatient basis, an entity subject to this section shall provide coverage for:

            (1)      one home visit scheduled to occur within 24 hours after discharge from the hospital or outpatient health care facility; and

            (2)      an additional home visit if prescribed by the patient's attending physician.

      (d)      Each entity subject to this section shall provide notice annually to its enrollees and insureds about the coverage required under this section.