Section 10123.15.

Every group policy of disability insurance which covers hospital, medical, and surgical expenses on a group basis, and which offers coverage for disorders of the brain shall also offer coverage in the same manner for the treatment of the following biologically based severe mental disorders: schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder, bipolar disorders and delusional depressions, and pervasive developmental disorder. Coverage for these mental disorders shall be subject to the same terms and conditions applied to the treatment of other disorders of the brain; however, an insurer may reserve the right to confirm diagnoses and to review the appropriateness of specific treatment plans as necessary to ensure that coverage under this section is provided for only those diagnostic and treatment services which are medically necessary.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the scope of licensure of any health care professional nor to impair rights to reimbursement guaranteed health care providers pursuant to Section 10176.

(Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 462, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1993.)