33-22-1903. Obstetricians or gynecologists as primary care physicians. (1) Each health benefit plan that provides coverage for primary care or obstetrical or gynecological care must allow obstetricians and gynecologists to participate as primary care physicians. The health carrier that provides the health benefit plan shall contract with a sufficient number of obstetricians and gynecologists to ensure that covered persons have access to the options under this section without unreasonable delay if there are obstetricians or gynecologists practicing in the geographic service areas in which the plan operates who are willing to participate in the plan. An obstetrician or gynecologist may not be required to accept primary care physician status if the obstetrician or gynecologist does not wish to be designated as a primary care physician. A health benefit plan must use the same criteria with regard to credentials and other selection criteria for a participating obstetrician or gynecologist as are applied by the health benefit plan with respect to other physicians who are participating in the health benefit plan. An obstetrician or gynecologist wishing to accept designation as a primary care physician must meet the same criteria with regard to credentials and other selection criteria for a participating primary care physician as other physicians who are participating as primary care physicians in the health benefit plan.
     (2) Each health benefit plan must allow a covered person to select any participating obstetrician or gynecologist of the covered person's choice as the covered person's primary care physician.

     History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 198, L. 1997.