Rhode Island General Laws Title 27. Insurance § 27-18-38. Diabetes treatment

(a) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state which provides medical coverage that includes coverage for physician services in a physician's office, and every policy which provides major medical or similar comprehensive-type coverage, except for supplemental policies which only provide coverage for specified diseases and other supplemental policies, shall include coverage for the following equipment and supplies for the treatment of insulin treated diabetes, non-insulin treated diabetes, and gestational diabetes, if medically appropriate and prescribed by a physician: blood glucose monitors and blood glucose monitors for the legally blind, test strips for glucose monitors and/or visual reading, insulin, injection aids, cartridges for the legally blind, syringes, insulin pumps and appurtenances to the pumps, insulin infusion devices, and oral agents for controlling blood sugar and therapeutic/molded shoes for the prevention of amputation.

(b) Upon the approval of new or improved diabetes equipment and supplies by the Food and Drug Administration, all policies governed by this section shall guarantee coverage of new diabetes equipment and supplies when medically appropriate and prescribed by a physician. These policies shall also include coverage, when medically necessary, for diabetes self-management education to ensure that persons with diabetes are instructed in the self-management and treatment of their diabetes, including information on the nutritional management of diabetes. The coverage for self-management education and education relating to medical nutrition therapy shall be limited to medically necessary visits upon the diagnosis of diabetes, where a physician diagnoses a significant change in the patient's symptoms or conditions which necessitate changes in a patient's self-management, or where reeducation or refresher training is necessary. This education when medically necessary and prescribed by a physician, may be provided only by the physician or, upon his or her referral to an appropriately licensed and certified health care provider and may be conducted in group settings. Coverage for self-management education and education relating to medical nutrition therapy shall also include home visits when medically necessary.

(c) Benefit plans offered by an insurer may impose co-payment and/or deductibles for the benefits mandated by this chapter; however, in no instance shall the co-payment or deductible amount be greater than the co-payment or deductible amount imposed for other supplies, equipment or physician office visits. Benefits for services under this section shall be reimbursed in accordance with the respective principles and mechanisms of reimbursement for each insurer, hospital, or medical service corporation, or health maintenance organization.