(a) In this section, “nurse anesthetist” means a registered nurse who is certified as a nurse anesthetist by:
(1) the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists; or
(2) the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists.
(b) This section applies to each individual, group, or blanket health insurance policy, contract, or certificate of an insurer or nonprofit health service plan that:
(1) (i) is issued or delivered in the State;
(ii) is issued to a group that is incorporated or has a main office in the State; or
(iii) covers individuals who reside or work in the State;
(2) is issued, renewed, amended, or reissued on or after July 1, 1984; and
(3) if issued by an insurer, is written on an expense-incurred basis.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of a policy, contract, or certificate subject to this section, if the policy, contract, or certificate provides for reimbursement for a service that is within the lawful scope of practice of a nurse anesthetist, the insured or any other person covered by the policy, contract, or certificate is entitled to reimbursement for the service regardless of whether the service is performed by a physician or nurse anesthetist.
(d) A policy that provides benefits under this section for services rendered by a nurse anesthetist may not require, as a condition for the payment of benefits, that the nurse anesthetist be employed by a physician.
(e) The utilization of health insurance benefits provided under this section for services rendered by a nurse anesthetist is subject to review by a peer review committee appointed by the State Board of Nursing.