H.P. 22 - L.D. 32
An Act to Allow Reimbursement of Registered Nurse First Assistants for Surgical Procedures
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 24 MRSA §2332-J is enacted to read:
§2332-J. Coverage for services provided by registered nurse first assistants
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. "Perioperative nursing" means a practice of nursing in which the nurse provides preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative nursing care to surgical patients.
B. "Recognized program" means a program that addresses all content of the core curriculum for registered nurse first assistants as established by the Association of Operating Room Nurses or its successor organization.
C. "Registered nurse first assistant," or "RNFA," means a person who:
(1) Is licensed as a registered nurse under Title 32, chapter 31;
(2) Is experienced in perioperative nursing; and
(3) Has successfully completed a recognized program.
2. Institutional powers. Each health care institution, as defined in Title 22, chapter 405, may establish specific procedures for the appointment and reappointment of registered nurse first assistants and for granting, renewing and revising their clinical privileges.
3. Required coverage for services. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, a nonprofit hospital and medical service organization that issues individual and group health care contracts that provide coverage for surgical first assisting benefits or services shall provide coverage and payment under those contracts to a registered nurse first assistant who performs services that are within the scope of a registered nurse first assistant's qualifications. The provisions of this subsection apply only if reimbursement for an assisting physician would be covered and a registered nurse first assistant who performed those services is used as a substitute.
4. Limits; coinsurance; deductibles. Any contract that provides coverage for the services required by this section may contain provisions for maximum benefits and coinsurance and reasonable limitations, deductibles and exclusions to the extent that these provisions are not inconsistent with the requirements of this section.
Sec. 2. 24-A MRSA §2756 is enacted to read:
§2756. Coverage for services provided by registered nurse first assistants
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. "Perioperative nursing" means a practice of nursing in which the nurse provides preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative nursing care to surgical patients.
B. "Recognized program" means a program that addresses all content of the core curriculum for registered nurse first assistants as established by the Association of Operating Room Nurses or its successor organization.
C. "Registered nurse first assistant," or "RNFA," means a person who:
(1) Is licensed as a registered nurse under Title 32, chapter 31;
(2) Is experienced in perioperative nursing; and
(3) Has successfully completed a recognized program.
2. Institutional powers. Each health care institution, as defined in Title 22, chapter 405, may establish specific procedures for the appointment and reappointment of registered nurse first assistants and for granting, renewing and revising their clinical privileges.
3. Required coverage for services. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, an insurer that issues individual health insurance policies and contracts that provide coverage for surgical first assisting benefits or services shall provide coverage and payment under those contracts to a registered nurse first assistant who performs services that are within the scope of a registered nurse first assistant's qualifications. The provisions of this subsection apply only if reimbursement for an assisting physician would be covered and a registered nurse first assistant who performed those services is used as a substitute. This section does not apply to policies or contracts that cover only specified diseases.
4. Limits; coinsurance; deductibles. Any contract that provides coverage for the services required by this section may contain provisions for maximum benefits and coinsurance and reasonable limitations, deductibles and exclusions to the extent that these provisions are not inconsistent with the requirements of this section.
Sec. 3. 24-A MRSA §2847-G is enacted to read:
§2847-G. Coverage for services provided by registered nurse first assistants
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. "Perioperative nursing" means a practice of nursing in which the nurse provides preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative nursing care to surgical patients.
B. "Recognized program" means a program that addresses all content of the core curriculum for registered nurse first assistants as established by the Association of Operating Room Nurses or its successor organization.
C. "Registered nurse first assistant," or "RNFA," means a person who:
(1) Is licensed as a registered nurse under Title 32, chapter 31;
(2) Is experienced in perioperative nursing; and
(3) Has successfully completed a recognized program.
2. Institutional powers. Each health care institution, as defined in Title 22, chapter 405, may establish specific procedures for the appointment and reappointment of registered nurse first assistants and for granting, renewing and revising their clinical privileges.
3. Required coverage for services. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, an insurer that issues group health insurance policies and contracts that provide coverage for surgical first assisting benefits or services shall provide coverage and payment under those contracts to a registered nurse first assistant who performs services that are within the scope of a registered nurse first assistant's qualifications. The provisions of this subsection apply only if reimbursement for an assisting physician would be covered and a registered nurse first assistant who performed those services is used as a substitute. This section does not apply to policies or contracts that cover only specified diseases.
4. Limits; coinsurance; deductibles. Any contract that provides coverage for the services required by this section may contain provisions for maximum benefits and coinsurance and reasonable limitations, deductibles and exclusions to the extent that these provisions are not inconsistent with the requirements of this section.
Sec. 4. 24-A MRSA §4246 is enacted to read:
§4246. Coverage for services provided by registered nurse first assistants
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. "Perioperative nursing" means a practice of nursing in which the nurse provides preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative nursing care to surgical patients.
B. "Recognized program" means a program that addresses all content of the core curriculum for registered nurse first assistants as established by the Association of Operating Room Nurses or its successor organization.
C. "Registered nurse first assistant," or "RNFA," means a person who:
(1) Is licensed as a registered nurse under Title 32, chapter 31;
(2) Is experienced in perioperative nursing; and
(3) Has successfully completed a recognized program.
2. Institutional powers. Each health care institution, as defined in Title 22, chapter 405, may establish specific procedures for the appointment and reappointment of registered nurse first assistants and for granting, renewing and revising their clinical privileges.
3. Required coverage for services. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, a health maintenance organization that issues individual and group health care contracts that provide coverage for surgical first assisting benefits or services shall provide coverage and payment under those contracts to a registered nurse first assistant who performs services that are within the scope of a registered nurse first assistant's qualifications. The provisions of this subsection apply only if reimbursement for an assisting physician would be covered and a registered nurse first assistant who performed those services is used as a substitute.
4. Limits; coinsurance; deductibles. Any contract that provides coverage for the services required by this section may contain provisions for maximum benefits and coinsurance and reasonable limitations, deductibles and exclusions to the extent that these provisions are not inconsistent with the requirements of this section.
Sec. 5. Application. The requirements of this Act apply to all policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State on or after January 1, 2000. For purposes of this Act, all contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.
Effective September 18, 1999, unless otherwise indicated.
| Revisor of Statutes Homepage | Subject Index | Search | Laws of Maine | Maine Legislature |
