§1037.  Health insurance coverage for activities performed by a registered nurse first assistant

A.  Any hospital, health, or medical expense insurance policy, hospital or medical service contract, employee welfare benefit plan, health maintenance organization subscriber agreement, health and accident insurance policy, or any other insurance contract of this type, including a group insurance plan and a self-insurance plan that provides medical and surgical benefits which are delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2004, shall not deny coverage of perioperative services rendered by a registered nurse first assistant if the insurer covers the same such first assistant perioperative services when they are rendered by an advanced practice nurse, a physician assistant, or a physician other than the operating surgeon.  Payments to registered nurse first assistants for such services shall be subject to the same credentialing and contracting requirements that apply to other health care providers paid for such services.

B.  The provisions of this Section shall not apply to limited benefit health insurance policies or contracts authorized to be issued in this state.  Additionally, the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to prohibit or prevent a health insurer or health maintenance organization from conducting a utilization review pertaining to coverage of the services of a registered nurse first assistant.

C.  As used in this Section:

(1)  "Perioperative services" means preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative nursing care provided to surgical patients.

(2)  "Recognized program" means a program that addresses all content of the core curriculum for registered nurse first assistant as established by the Association of Operating Room Nurses or its successor organization.

(3)  "Registered nurse first assistant" means a person who has met all of the following requirements:

(a)  Is licensed as a registered nurse in accordance with state law.

(b)  Is experienced in perioperative nursing.

(c)  Has successfully completed a recognized program.

Acts 2003, No. 190, §1; Redesignated from R.S. 22:215.24 by Acts 2008, No. 415, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2010, No. 919, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011.