A. Within the area and limits of coverage offered an insured and selected by him in the application for insurance, the right of any person to exercise full freedom of choice in the selection of any independent social worker as defined in Subsection B of this section, for treatment within his scope of practice shall not be restricted under any new policy of health insurance, contract or health care plan issued after July 1, 1989 in this state or in the processing of any claim thereunder. Any person insured or claiming benefits under any such health insurance policy, contract or health care plan providing within its coverage for payment of service benefits or indemnity for treatment of persons for the cure or correction of any mental condition shall be deemed to have complied with the requirements of the policy, contract or health care plan as to submission of proof of loss upon submitting written proof supported by any independent social worker.
B. As used in this section "independent social worker" means a person licensed as an independent social worker by the board of social work examiners pursuant to the Social Work Practice Act [61-31-1 to 61-31-24 NMSA 1978].
History: Laws 1989, ch. 51, § 25.