58-3-176. Treatment discussions not limited.
(a) An insurer shall not limit either of the following:
(1) The participating plan provider's ability to discuss with an enrollee the clinical treatment options medically available, the risks associated with the treatments, or a recommended course of treatment.
(2) The participating plan provider's professional obligations to patients as specified under the provider's professional license.
(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to expand or revise the scope of benefits covered by a health benefit plan.
(c) As used in this section:
(1) "Health benefit plan" means any of the following if written by an insurer: an accident and health insurance policy or certificate; a nonprofit hospital or medical service corporation contract; a health maintenance organization subscriber contract; or a plan provided by a multiple employer welfare arrangement. "Health benefit plan" does not mean any plan implemented or administered through the Department of Health and Human Services or its representatives. "Health benefit plan" also does not mean any of the following kinds of insurance:
a. Accident.
b. Credit.
c. Disability income.
d. Long-term or nursing home care.
e. Medicare supplement.
f. Specified disease.
g. Dental or vision.
h. Coverage issued as a supplement to liability insurance.
i. Workers' compensation.
j. Medical payments under automobile or homeowners insurance.
k. Hospital income or indemnity.
l. Insurance under which benefits are payable with or without regard to fault and that is statutorily required to be contained in any liability policy or equivalent self-insurance.
(2) "Insurer" means an entity that writes a health benefit plan and that is an insurance company subject to this Chapter, a service corporation under Article 65 of this Chapter, a health maintenance organization under Article 67 of this Chapter, or a multiple employer welfare arrangement under Article 50A of this Chapter. (1997-443, s. 11A.122; 1997-474, s. 1; 2019-202, s. 8.)
Structure North Carolina General Statutes
North Carolina General Statutes
Article 3 - General Regulations for Insurance.
§ 58-3-1 - State law governs insurance contracts.
§ 58-3-5 - No insurance contracts except under Articles 1 through 64 of this Chapter.
§ 58-3-6 - Charitable gift annuities.
§ 58-3-7 - Certain accountable care organizations not subject to this Chapter.
§ 58-3-8 - Medical direct primary care agreements not subject to this Chapter.
§ 58-3-10 - Statements in application not warranties.
§ 58-3-15 - Additional or coinsurance clause.
§ 58-3-20 - Group plans other than life, annuity or accident and health.
§ 58-3-25 - Discriminatory practices prohibited.
§ 58-3-30 - Meaning of terms "accident", "accidental injury", and "accidental means".
§ 58-3-33 - Insurer conditionally required to provide information.
§ 58-3-35 - Stipulations as to jurisdiction and limitation of actions.
§ 58-3-40 - Proof of loss forms required to be furnished.
§ 58-3-45 - Insurance as security for a loan by the company.
§ 58-3-50 - Companies must do business in own name; emblems, insignias, etc.
§ 58-3-55 - Must not pay death benefits in services.
§ 58-3-60 - Publication of assets and liabilities; penalty for failure.
§ 58-3-65 - Publication of financial information.
§ 58-3-71 - Unearned premium reserves.
§ 58-3-72 - Premium deficiency reserves.
§ 58-3-75 - Loss and loss expense reserves of fire and marine insurance companies.
§ 58-3-81 - Loss and loss expense reserves of casualty insurance and surety companies.
§ 58-3-100 - Insurance company licensing provisions.
§ 58-3-105 - Limitation of risk.
§ 58-3-110 - Limitation of liability assumed.
§ 58-3-115 - Twisting with respect to insurance policies; penalties.
§ 58-3-120 - Discrimination forbidden.
§ 58-3-121 - Discrimination against coverage of certain bones and joints prohibited.
§ 58-3-135 - Certain insurance activities by lenders with customers prohibited.
§ 58-3-137 - Prohibition on provisions relating to replacement cost estimators.
§ 58-3-140 - Temporary contracts of insurance permitted.
§ 58-3-145 - Solicitation, negotiation or payment of premiums on insurance policies.
§ 58-3-147 - Credit card guaranty or collateral prohibited.
§ 58-3-149 - Certificates of insurance.
§ 58-3-150 - Forms to be approved by Commissioner.
§ 58-3-151 - Deemer provisions.
§ 58-3-152 - Excess liability policies; uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages.
§ 58-3-155 - Business transacted with insurer-controlled brokers.
§ 58-3-160 - Sale of company or major reorganization; license to be restricted.
§ 58-3-165 - Business transacted with producer-controlled property or casualty insurers.
§ 58-3-167 - Applicability of acts of the General Assembly to health benefit plans.
§ 58-3-168 - Coverage for postmastectomy inpatient care.
§ 58-3-169 - Required coverage for minimum hospital stay following birth.
§ 58-3-170 - Requirements for maternity coverage.
§ 58-3-171 - Uniform claim forms.
§ 58-3-172 - Notice of claim denied.
§ 58-3-175 - Direct payment to government agencies.
§ 58-3-176 - Treatment discussions not limited.
§ 58-3-177 - Uniform prescription drug identification cards.
§ 58-3-179 - Coverage for colorectal cancer screening.
§ 58-3-180 - Motor vehicle repairs; selection by claimant.
§ 58-3-181 - Synchronization of prescription refills.
§ 58-3-185 - Lien created for payment of past-due child support obligations.
§ 58-3-190 - Coverage required for emergency care.
§ 58-3-191 - Managed care reporting and disclosure requirements.
§ 58-3-192 - Coverage for autism spectrum disorder.
§ 58-3-200 - Miscellaneous insurance and managed care coverage and network provisions.
§ 58-3-215 - Genetic information in health insurance.
§ 58-3-220 - Mental illness benefits coverage.
§ 58-3-221 - Access to nonformulary and restricted access prescription drugs.
§ 58-3-223 - Managed care access to specialist care.
§ 58-3-225 - Prompt claim payments under health benefit plans.
§ 58-3-227 - Health plans fee schedules.
§ 58-3-228 - Coverage for extra prescriptions during a state of emergency or disaster.
§ 58-3-230 - Uniform provider credentialing.
§ 58-3-231 - Payment under locum tenens arrangements.
§ 58-3-235 - Selection of specialist as primary care provider.
§ 58-3-240 - Direct access to pediatrician for minors.
§ 58-3-245 - Provider directories; cost tools for insured.
§ 58-3-247 - Insurance identification card.
§ 58-3-250 - Payment obligations for covered services.
§ 58-3-255 - Coverage of clinical trials.
§ 58-3-256 - Coverage related to organ transplants.
§ 58-3-260 - Insurance coverage for newborn hearing screening mandated.
§ 58-3-265 - Prohibition on managed care provider incentives.
§ 58-3-270 - Coverage for surveillance tests for women at risk for ovarian cancer.
§ 58-3-275 - Closure of a block of business.
§ 58-3-280 - Coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of lymphedema.
§ 58-3-285 - Coverage for hearing aids.
§ 58-3-290 - Nondependent child coverage defined; open enrollment.
§ 58-3-300 - Health insurance issuers subject to certain requirements of federal law.