| 3. Mental health services provided by counseling |
| professionals. Except as provided in subsection 1 with regard to |
| reimbursement of clinical professional counselors and pastoral |
| counselors licensed in this State, an insurer that issues group |
| health care contracts providing coverage for mental health |
| services shall make available 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 policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, |
| issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State. For |
| purposes of this subsection, all contracts are deemed renewed no |
| later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date. |
