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adolescent psychiatric and mental health nursing may not be | | conditioned upon prior diagnosis or referral by a physician or | | other health care professional, except in cases where diagnosis | | of the condition for which the services are rendered is beyond | | the scope of their licensure. |
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| | | 2. Nothing in subsection 1 may be construed to require a | | health insurance policy subject to this chapter to provide for | reimbursement of services which | | scope of practice of a psychologist licensed to practice in | | this State, a clinical social worker licensed in this State, a | | clinical professional counselor licensed to practice in this | | State, a certified social worker licensed to practice in this | | State, or a certified nurse licensed to practice in this | | State. |
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| | | 3. Mental health services provided by counseling | professionals. An insurer that issues individual health care | contracts providing coverage for mental health services shall | offer coverage for those services when performed by a | counseling professional who is licensed by the State pursuant | to Title 32, chapter 119 to assess and treat interpersonal and | intrapersonal problems, has at least a masters degree in | counseling or a related field from an accredited educational | institution and has been employed as a counselor for at least | 2 years. Any contract providing coverage for the services of | counseling professionals pursuant to this section may be | subject to any reasonable limitations, maximum benefits, | coinsurance, deductibles or exclusion provisions applicable to | overall benefits under the contract. This subsection applies | to all contracts executed, delivered, issued for delivery, | continued or renewed in this State on or after January 1, | 1997. For purposes of this subsection, all contracts are | deemed renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of | the contract date. |
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| | | Sec. 2. 24-A MRSA §2835, as amended by PL 1995, c. 561, §3, is | | further amended to read: |
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| | | §2835. Mental health services |
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| | | 1. Notwithstanding any provision of a health insurance | | policy subject to this chapter, whenever the policy provides | for payment or reimbursement for services which | | within the lawful scope of practice of a psychologist licensed | to practice in this State, | | for the independent practice of social work in this State who | | has at least a masters degree in social work from an | | accredited educational institution, has been employed in | | social work for at least 2 years, and who, after January 1, | | 1985, must be licensed as a clinical social worker in this | State, | | for the independent practice of |
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