Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to mandate health insurance coverage for acupuncture services in Minnesota, particularly for individuals seeking treatment for pain and pain management.

Main Provisions

• Mandatory Coverage: Health insurance plans are required to cover acupuncture services when used for treating pain or managing ongoing pain. This applies specifically to services provided by authorized acupuncture practitioners.
• Visit Limits Before Prior Authorization: Patients can receive up to 30 acupuncture visits covered by their health plan before the insurer can require prior authorization for additional sessions.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new requirement for health insurance providers to include acupuncture coverage in their plans, a service that may not have been universally covered before. It also establishes a specific structure for the number of acupuncture visits before additional administrative processes, like prior authorization, are necessary.

Relevant Terms

• Health insurance coverage
• Acupuncture services
• Pain management
• Prior authorization
• Authorized practitioners