AN ACT to reestablish copayment equity for chiropractic care.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 58‑50‑30(a3) is recodified as G.S. 58‑50‑27(b).

SECTION 2.  G.S. 58‑50‑27, as enacted by Section 1 of this act, reads as rewritten:

§ 58‑50‑27.  Chiropractic services.

(a)        The following definitions apply in this section:

(1)        Health benefit plan. – As defined in G.S. 58‑3‑167.

(2)        Insurer. – As defined in G.S. 58‑3‑167.

(3)        Licensed chiropractor. – An individual holding a license under Article 8 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes.

(b)        Whenever any health benefit plan, subscriber contract, or policy of insurance issued by a health maintenance organization, hospital or medical service corporation, or insurer governed by Articles 1 through 67 of this Chapter provides coverage for medically necessary treatment, the An insurer shall not impose offer a health benefit plan that imposes any limitation on treatment or levels of coverage if performed by a duly licensed chiropractor acting within the scope of the chiropractor's practice as defined in G.S. 90‑151 unless a comparable limitation is also imposed on the medically necessary treatment if performed or authorized by any other duly licensed physician.physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner.

(c)        An insurer shall not offer a health benefit plan that imposes, as a limitation on treatment or level of coverage, a copayment amount charged to the insured for chiropractic services that is higher than the copayment amount for the services of a licensed primary care physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner for a comparable medically necessary treatment or condition.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2021, and applies to insurance contracts issued, renewed, or amended on or after that date.