NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1981 SESSION

CHAPTER 816
SENATE BILL 546

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THAT ALL ACCIDENT AND HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES PROVIDE FOR COVERAGE FOR TREATMENT IN STATE TAX-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1. The first sentence of G.S. 58‑251.6(a) is rewritten to read:
"(a)	Whenever any policy of insurance governed by this Chapter provides for benefits for charges of hospitals or physicians, the policy shall provide for payments of benefits for charges made for medical care rendered in or by duly licensed State tax‑supported institutions, including charges for medical care of cerebral palsy, other orthopedic and crippling disabilities, mental and nervous diseases or disorders, mental retardation, alcoholism and drug or chemical dependency, and respiratory illness, on a basis no less favorable than the basis which would apply had the medical care been rendered in or by any other public or private institution or provider. The term 'State tax‑supported institutions' shall include community mental health centers and other health clinics which are certified as Medicaid providers."
Sec. 2. G.S. 58‑251.6(c) is rewritten to read:
"(c)	The restrictions and regulations of this section shall not apply to any policy which is individually underwritten or provided for a specific individual and the members of his family as a nongroup policy but shall apply to any group policy of insurance governed by this Chapter."
Sec. 3. This act shall become effective October 1, 1981.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 3rd day of July, 1981.