3420                                         LAWS OF MARYLAND                                     Ch. 734

Article - Health - General
Section 2-106(a)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1982 Volume and 1984 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article - State Government
Section 8-403 (f)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1984 Volume and 1984 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 48A - Insurance Code

354Z.

(A) Notwithstanding any provision of a group or individual
policy or contract issued by a nonprofit health service plan, or
any certificate issued thereunder, of health, sickness, accident,
or disability insurance, delivered or issued for delivery within
the State, whenever such policy, contract, or certificate
provides for reimbursement for any service which is within the
lawful scope of practice of a health care provider duly licensed
under the Health Occupations Article, the insured, or any other
person covered by the policy, contract, or certificate, shall be
entitled to reimbursement for such service. The provisions of
this section apply to all such policies, contracts, or
certificates issued, renewed, modified, altered, amended, or
reissued on or after July 1, 1984.

(B) NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION (A) OF
THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE POLICY, CONTRACT, OR CERTIFICATE
EXPRESSLY PROVIDES FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY SERVICE WHICH IS
WITHIN THE LAWFUL SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF A PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR
CERTIFIED UNDER THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE, THE PROVISIONS OF
TITLE 15.5 OF THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE GOVERNING THE
CERTIFICATION AND REGULATION OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS MAY NOT
BE CONSTRUED TO ENTITLE THE INSURED OR ANY OTHER PERSON COVERED
BY THE POLICY, CONTRACT, OR CERTIFICATE TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY
SERVICE WHICH IS WITHIN THE LAWFUL SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF A
CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR.

470U.

(A) Notwithstanding any provision of a group or individual
policy or contract, including profit and nonprofit health plans,
or any certificate issued thereunder, of health. sickness,
accident, or disability insurance, delivered or issued for
delivery within the State, whenever such policy, contract, or