                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

MINIMUM HOSPITAL STAY FOR MASTECTOMY AND CERTAIN LYMPH NODE DISSECTION PATIENTS
(§ 38.2-3418.6)

A. Notwithstanding the provisions of &#xA7; 38.2-3419, each insurer proposing to
issue individual or group accident and sickness insurance policies providing
hospital, medical and surgical, or major medical coverage on an expense-incurred
basis; each corporation providing individual or group accident and sickness
subscription contracts; and each health maintenance organization providing a
health care plan for health care services shall provide coverage providing a
minimum stay in the hospital of not less than forty-eight hours for a patient
following a radical or modified radical mastectomy and not less than twenty-four
hours of inpatient care following a total mastectomy or a partial mastectomy
with lymph node dissection for the treatment of breast cancer. Nothing in this
section shall be construed as requiring the provision of inpatient coverage
where the attending physician in consultation with the patient determines that a
shorter period of hospital stay is appropriate. Such provision shall be included
under any policy, contract or plan delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in
this Commonwealth on and after July 1, 1998.
			The provisions of this section shall not apply to short-term travel, accident
only, limited or specified disease policies, policies or contracts designed for
issuance to persons eligible for coverage under Title XVIII of the Social
Security Act, known as Medicare, or any other similar coverage under state or
federal governmental plans, or to short-term nonrenewable policies of not more
than six months&#8217; duration.

HISTORY: 1998, c. 631.