17B:26-2.1 - Treatment of alcoholism; benefits - New Jersey Statutes

17B:26-2.1.  Treatment of alcoholism;  benefits    No health insurance contract providing hospital or medical expense benefits  shall be delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State, or approved for  issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Insurance after the  effective date of this act, unless such contract provides benefits to any  subscriber or other person covered thereunder for expenses incurred in  connection with the treatment of alcoholism when such treatment is prescribed  by a doctor of medicine.  Such benefits shall be provided to the same extent as  for any other sickness under the contract.

    Every contract shall include such benefits for the treatment of alcoholism as are hereinafter set forth:

    a.  Inpatient or outpatient care in a licensed hospital;

     b.  Treatment at a detoxification facility licensed pursuant to P.L.1975, c.  305;

     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;  provided, however, that the benefit days used do not exceed the total number of benefit days provided for any other sickness under the contract.

     L.1977, c. 118, s. 1, eff. June 2, 1977.