Chapter 607 Oregon Laws 1999

Session Law

AN ACT

HB 3529

Relating to women's health care services; amending ORS 743.845.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. ORS 743.845 is amended to read:

743.845. (1) For purposes of this section:

(a) "Women's health care provider" means an obstetrician or gynecologist, physician assistant specializing in women's health, advanced registered nurse practitioner specialist in women's health or certified nurse midwife, practicing within the applicable lawful scope of practice.

(b) "Pregnancy care" means the care necessary to support a healthy pregnancy and care related to labor and delivery.

(2) Every health insurance policy that covers hospital, medical or surgical expenses and requires an enrollee to designate a participating primary care provider shall permit a female enrollee to designate a women's health care provider as the enrollee's primary care provider if:

(a) The women's health care provider meets the standards established by the insurer in collaboration with interested parties, including but not limited to the Oregon section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; and

(b) The women's health care provider requests that the insurer make the provider available for designation as a primary care provider.

(3) If a female enrollee has designated a primary care provider who is not a women's health care provider, an insurance policy as described in subsection (2) of this section shall permit the enrollee to have direct access to a women's health care provider for the following services:

(a) At least one annual preventative women's health examination; [and]

(b) Medically necessary follow-up visits resulting from a preventative women's health examination. A health plan may require the women's health care provider to notify and consult with the enrollee's primary care provider; and

[(b)] (c) Pregnancy care.

(4) The standards established by the insurer under subsection (2) of this section shall not prohibit an insurer from establishing the maximum number of participating primary care providers and participating women's health care providers necessary to serve a defined population or geographic service area.

Approved by the Governor July 12, 1999

Filed in the office of Secretary of State July 12, 1999

Effective date October 23, 1999

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