17:48E-34 - Alcoholism treatment benefits - New Jersey Statutes

17:48E-34.   Alcoholism treatment benefits
    No group or individual contract providing health service coverage shall be delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State, or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the commissioner, unless the contract provides benefits to any subscriber or other person covered thereunder for expenses incurred in connection with the treatment of alcoholism when the treatment is prescribed by a doctor of medicine.  Benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other sickness under the contract.

   Every contract shall include benefits for the treatment of alcoholism as follows:

   a.   Inpatient or outpatient care in a health care facility licensed pursuant to P.L. 1971, c. 136 (C. 26:2H-1 et seq.);

   b.   Treatment at a detoxification facility licensed pursuant to section 8 of P.L. 1975, c. 305 (C. 26:2B-14);

   c.   Confinement as an inpatient or outpatient at a licensed, certified, or State approved residential treatment facility, under a program which meets minimum standards of care equivalent to those prescribed by the Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation.

   Treatment or confinement at any facility shall not preclude further or additional treatment at any other eligible facility, if the benefit days used do not exceed the total number of benefit days provided for any other sickness under the contract.

   L. 1985, c. 236, s. 34, eff. July 15, 1985.