S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8584
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 12, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. LUNSFORD -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Insurance
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the insurance law, in relation to medical assistance
   coverage for medically tailored meals and  medical  nutrition  therapy
   for the purpose of disease management
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. Subsection (i) of section 3216  of  the  insurance  law  is
 amended by adding a new paragraph 21-a to read as follows:
   (21-A) (A) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH:
   (I) "MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS" AND "MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY" MEANS A
 NUTRITIONAL  ASSESSMENT, NUTRITIONAL THERAPY, AND NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING
 PROVIDED BY A CERTIFIED DIETICIAN, CERTIFIED NUTRITIONIST, OR A  MEDICAL
 DOCTOR,  INCLUDING  THE PROVISION OF ANY FOOD INDICATED BY A NUTRITIONAL
 ASSESSMENT AND THE DELIVERY OF SUCH  FOOD,  ORDERED  BY  A  HEALTH  CARE
 PROFESSIONAL  ACTING WITHIN HIS OR HER LAWFUL SCOPE OF PRACTICE PURSUANT
 TO TITLE EIGHT OF THE EDUCATION LAW, FOR THE PURPOSE OF TREATING ONE  OR
 MORE CHRONIC CONDITIONS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL IS DIAGNOSED WITH.
   (II)  "CHRONIC  CONDITION" MEANS CANCER, DIABETES, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
 AND OTHER DEMENTIAS.
   (III) "MANAGED CARE  PRODUCT"  MEANS  A  POLICY  WHICH  REQUIRES  THAT
 MEDICAL  OR  OTHER  HEALTH CARE SERVICES COVERED UNDER THE POLICY, OTHER
 THAN EMERGENCY CARE SERVICES, BE PROVIDED BY, OR PURSUANT TO A  REFERRAL
 FROM,  A  PRIMARY  CARE PROVIDER, AND THAT SERVICES PROVIDED PURSUANT TO
 SUCH A REFERRAL BE RENDERED BY A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER  PARTICIPATING  IN
 THE INSURER'S MANAGED CARE PROVIDER NETWORK. IN ADDITION, A MANAGED CARE
 PRODUCT  SHALL  ALSO  MEAN  THE  IN-NETWORK  PORTION OF A CONTRACT WHICH
 REQUIRES THAT MEDICAL OR OTHER HEALTH CARE SERVICES  COVERED  UNDER  THE
 CONTRACT,  OTHER THAN EMERGENCY CARE SERVICES, BE PROVIDED BY, OR PURSU-
 ANT TO A REFERRAL FROM, A  PRIMARY  CARE  PROVIDER,  AND  THAT  SERVICES
 PROVIDED  PURSUANT  TO  SUCH  A  REFERRAL  BE  RENDERED BY A HEALTH CARE
 PROVIDER PARTICIPATING IN THE INSURER'S MANAGED CARE  PROVIDER  NETWORK,
 IN  ORDER  FOR  THE  INSURED TO BE ENTITLED TO THE MAXIMUM REIMBURSEMENT
 UNDER THE CONTRACT.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD03736-02-3
 A. 8584                             2
 
   (IV) "MEDICALLY TAILORED  MEAL  VENDOR"  IS  A  VENDOR  THAT  PROVIDES
 MEDICALLY   TAILORED   MEALS   ACCORDING  TO  THE  SPECIFICATIONS  IN  A
 PRESCRIPTION FROM A CERTIFIED DIETICIAN, CERTIFIED  NUTRITIONIST,  OR  A
 MEDICAL DOCTOR.
   (B)  EVERY POLICY WHICH IS A MANAGED CARE PRODUCT AS DEFINED IN CLAUSE
 (III) OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS PARAGRAPH THAT PROVIDES  COVERAGE  FOR
 PHYSICIAN  SERVICES IN A PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE, AND EVERY POLICY WHICH IS A
 MANAGED CARE PRODUCT THAT PROVIDES MAJOR MEDICAL OR  SIMILAR  COMPREHEN-
 SIVE-TYPE  COVERAGE, SHALL INCLUDE COVERAGE FOR MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS
 AND MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY AS DEFINED IN CLAUSE (I)  OF  SUBPARAGRAPH
 (A)  OF  THIS  PARAGRAPH, PROVIDED BY A CERTIFIED DIETICIAN OR CERTIFIED
 NUTRITIONIST LICENSED PURSUANT TO SECTION EIGHT  THOUSAND  FOUR  OF  THE
 EDUCATION LAW AND PURSUANT TO 8 NYCCR 52.5 AND 8 NYCRR 79-6 OR A MEDICAL
 DOCTOR,  IN  CONNECTION  WITH THE MANAGEMENT OR TREATMENT OF ONE OR MORE
 CHRONIC CONDITIONS.
   (C) INDIVIDUAL COVERAGE IS LIMITED PER MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS OF ONE CHRON-
 IC CONDITION.  COVERED INDIVIDUALS MAY RECEIVE COVERAGE OF A MAXIMUM  OF
 TEN  MEALS PER WEEK FOR A MAXIMUM DURATION OF THREE MONTHS FROM THE DATE
 THE INDIVIDUAL RECEIVES ITS FIRST MEAL PRESCRIPTION PER A DIAGNOSIS OF A
 CHRONIC CONDITION. AN  INDIVIDUAL  MAY  RENEW  MEDICALLY  TAILORED  MEAL
 COVERAGE  WITH  AN  ASSESSMENT AND RENEWED PRESCRIPTION FROM A CERTIFIED
 DIETICIAN, CERTIFIED NUTRITIONIST OR MEDICAL DOCTOR.  THE  MANAGED  CARE
 PRODUCT  SHALL PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR MEALS THAT COMPLY WITH THE MEDICALLY
 TAILORED MEAL PRESCRIPTION FROM A PRE-APPROVED MEDICALLY  TAILORED  MEAL
 VENDOR. THE MEDICALLY TAILORED MEAL VENDOR SHALL HAVE A CERTIFIED DIETI-
 CIAN,  CERTIFIED  NUTRITIONIST  OR MEDICAL DOCTOR REVIEW AND APPROVE THE
 MENUS PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO  A  PRESCRIPTION  FOR  MEDICALLY  TAILORED
 MEALS.  ALL MEDICALLY TAILORED MEAL VENDORS SHALL BE PRE-APPROVED BY THE
 MANAGED CARE PLAN.
   (D) MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS AND MEDICAL  NUTRITION  THERAPY  SERVICES
 MAY  BE  SUBJECT  TO  REASONABLE DEDUCTIBLE, CO-PAYMENT AND CO-INSURANCE
 AMOUNTS, REASONABLE FEE OR BENEFIT LIMITS,  AND  REASONABLE  UTILIZATION
 REVIEW, PROVIDED THAT ANY SUCH AMOUNTS, LIMITS AND REVIEW: (I) SHALL NOT
 FUNCTION   TO  DIRECT  TREATMENT  IN  A  MANNER  DISCRIMINATIVE  AGAINST
 MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS AND MEDICAL NUTRITIONAL THERAPY CARE, AND  (II)
 INDIVIDUALLY  AND  COLLECTIVELY  SHALL BE NO MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN THOSE
 APPLICABLE UNDER THE SAME POLICY TO CARE OR SERVICES PROVIDED  BY  OTHER
 HEALTH  PROFESSIONALS  IN  THE  DIAGNOSIS,  TREATMENT  AND MANAGEMENT OF
 CHRONIC DISEASES. NOTHING HEREIN CONTAINED SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS  IMPED-
 ING OR PREVENTING EITHER THE PROVISION OR COVERAGE OF MEDICALLY TAILORED
 MEALS AND MEDICAL NUTRITIONAL THERAPY CARE AND SERVICES BY A DULY CERTI-
 FIED  DIETICIAN,  CERTIFIED  NUTRITIONIST  OR MEDICAL DOCTOR, WITHIN THE
 LAWFUL SCOPE OF THEIR PRACTICE, IN HOSPITAL FACILITIES  ON  A  STAFF  OR
 EMPLOYEE BASIS.
   (E)  THE  COVERAGE REQUIRED BY THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL NOT BE ABRIDGED BY
 ANY REGULATION PROMULGATED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT.
   § 2. Subsection (k) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by
 adding a new paragraph 11-a to read as follows:
   (11-A) (A) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH:
   (I) "MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS" AND "MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY" MEANS A
 NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT, NUTRITIONAL THERAPY, AND NUTRITIONAL  COUNSELING
 PROVIDED  BY A CERTIFIED DIETICIAN, CERTIFIED NUTRITIONIST, OR A MEDICAL
 DOCTOR, INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF ANY FOOD INDICATED BY  A  NUTRITIONAL
 ASSESSMENT  AND  THE  DELIVERY  OF  SUCH  FOOD, ORDERED BY A HEALTH CARE
 PROFESSIONAL ACTING WITHIN HIS OR HER LAWFUL SCOPE OF PRACTICE  PURSUANT
 A. 8584                             3
 
 TO  TITLE EIGHT OF THE EDUCATION LAW, FOR THE PURPOSE OF TREATING ONE OR
 MORE CHRONIC CONDITIONS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL IS DIAGNOSED WITH.
   (II)  "CHRONIC  CONDITION" MEANS CANCER, DIABETES, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
 AND OTHER DEMENTIAS.
   (III) "MANAGED CARE  PRODUCT"  MEANS  A  POLICY  WHICH  REQUIRES  THAT
 MEDICAL  OR  OTHER  HEALTH CARE SERVICES COVERED UNDER THE POLICY, OTHER
 THAN EMERGENCY CARE SERVICES, BE PROVIDED BY, OR PURSUANT TO A  REFERRAL
 FROM,  A  PRIMARY  CARE PROVIDER, AND THAT SERVICES PROVIDED PURSUANT TO
 SUCH A REFERRAL BE RENDERED BY A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER  PARTICIPATING  IN
 THE INSURER'S MANAGED CARE PROVIDER NETWORK. IN ADDITION, A MANAGED CARE
 PRODUCT  SHALL  ALSO  MEAN  THE  IN-NETWORK  PORTION OF A CONTRACT WHICH
 REQUIRES THAT MEDICAL OR OTHER HEALTH CARE SERVICES  COVERED  UNDER  THE
 CONTRACT,  OTHER THAN EMERGENCY CARE SERVICES, BE PROVIDED BY, OR PURSU-
 ANT TO A REFERRAL FROM, A  PRIMARY  CARE  PROVIDER,  AND  THAT  SERVICES
 PROVIDED  PURSUANT  TO  SUCH  A  REFERRAL  BE  RENDERED BY A HEALTH CARE
 PROVIDER PARTICIPATING IN THE INSURER'S MANAGED CARE  PROVIDER  NETWORK,
 IN  ORDER  FOR  THE  INSURED TO BE ENTITLED TO THE MAXIMUM REIMBURSEMENT
 UNDER THE CONTRACT.
   (IV) "MEDICALLY TAILORED  MEAL  VENDOR"  IS  A  VENDOR  THAT  PROVIDES
 MEDICALLY   TAILORED   MEALS   ACCORDING  TO  THE  SPECIFICATIONS  IN  A
 PRESCRIPTION FROM A CERTIFIED DIETICIAN, CERTIFIED  NUTRITIONIST,  OR  A
 MEDICAL DOCTOR.
   (B)  EVERY POLICY WHICH IS A MANAGED CARE PRODUCT AS DEFINED IN CLAUSE
 (III) OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS PARAGRAPH THAT PROVIDES  COVERAGE  FOR
 PHYSICIAN  SERVICES IN A PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE, AND EVERY POLICY WHICH IS A
 MANAGED CARE PRODUCT THAT PROVIDES MAJOR MEDICAL OR  SIMILAR  COMPREHEN-
 SIVE-TYPE  COVERAGE, SHALL INCLUDE COVERAGE FOR MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS
 AND MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY AS DEFINED IN CLAUSE (I)  OF  SUBPARAGRAPH
 (A)  OF  THIS  PARAGRAPH, PROVIDED BY A CERTIFIED DIETICIAN OR CERTIFIED
 NUTRITIONIST LICENSED PURSUANT TO SECTION EIGHT  THOUSAND  FOUR  OF  THE
 EDUCATION LAW AND PURSUANT TO 8 NYCCR 52.5 AND 8 NYCRR 79-6 OR A MEDICAL
 DOCTOR,  IN  CONNECTION  WITH THE MANAGEMENT OR TREATMENT OF ONE OR MORE
 CHRONIC CONDITIONS.
   (C) INDIVIDUAL COVERAGE IS LIMITED PER MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS OF ONE CHRON-
 IC CONDITION.  COVERED INDIVIDUALS MAY RECEIVE COVERAGE OF A MAXIMUM  OF
 TEN  MEALS PER WEEK FOR A MAXIMUM DURATION OF THREE MONTHS FROM THE DATE
 THE INDIVIDUAL RECEIVES ITS FIRST MEAL PRESCRIPTION PER A DIAGNOSIS OF A
 CHRONIC CONDITION. AN  INDIVIDUAL  MAY  RENEW  MEDICALLY  TAILORED  MEAL
 COVERAGE  WITH  AN  ASSESSMENT AND RENEWED PRESCRIPTION FROM A CERTIFIED
 DIETICIAN, CERTIFIED NUTRITIONIST OR MEDICAL DOCTOR.  THE  MANAGED  CARE
 PRODUCT  SHALL PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR MEALS THAT COMPLY WITH THE MEDICALLY
 TAILORED MEAL PRESCRIPTION FROM A PRE-APPROVED MEDICALLY  TAILORED  MEAL
 VENDOR. THE MEDICALLY TAILORED MEAL VENDOR SHALL HAVE A CERTIFIED DIETI-
 CIAN,  CERTIFIED  NUTRITIONIST  OR MEDICAL DOCTOR REVIEW AND APPROVE THE
 MENUS PROVIDED IN RESPONSE TO  A  PRESCRIPTION  FOR  MEDICALLY  TAILORED
 MEALS.  ALL MEDICALLY TAILORED MEAL VENDORS SHALL BE PRE-APPROVED BY THE
 MANAGED CARE PLAN.
   (D) MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS AND MEDICAL  NUTRITION  THERAPY  SERVICES
 MAY  BE  SUBJECT  TO  REASONABLE DEDUCTIBLE, CO-PAYMENT AND CO-INSURANCE
 AMOUNTS, REASONABLE FEE OR BENEFIT LIMITS,  AND  REASONABLE  UTILIZATION
 REVIEW, PROVIDED THAT ANY SUCH AMOUNTS, LIMITS AND REVIEW: (I) SHALL NOT
 FUNCTION   TO  DIRECT  TREATMENT  IN  A  MANNER  DISCRIMINATIVE  AGAINST
 MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS AND MEDICAL NUTRITIONAL THERAPY CARE, AND  (II)
 INDIVIDUALLY  AND  COLLECTIVELY  SHALL BE NO MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN THOSE
 APPLICABLE UNDER THE SAME POLICY TO CARE OR SERVICES PROVIDED  BY  OTHER
 HEALTH  PROFESSIONALS  IN  THE  DIAGNOSIS,  TREATMENT  AND MANAGEMENT OF
 A. 8584                             4
 
 CHRONIC DISEASES. NOTHING HEREIN CONTAINED SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS  IMPED-
 ING OR PREVENTING EITHER THE PROVISION OR COVERAGE OF MEDICALLY TAILORED
 MEALS AND MEDICAL NUTRITIONAL THERAPY CARE AND SERVICES BY A DULY CERTI-
 FIED  DIETICIAN,  CERTIFIED  NUTRITIONIST  OR MEDICAL DOCTOR, WITHIN THE
 LAWFUL SCOPE OF THEIR PRACTICE, IN HOSPITAL FACILITIES  ON  A  STAFF  OR
 EMPLOYEE BASIS.
   (E)  THE  COVERAGE REQUIRED BY THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL NOT BE ABRIDGED BY
 ANY REGULATION PROMULGATED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT.
   § 3. Section 4303 of the insurance law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 subsection (y-1) to read as follows:
   (Y-1) (A) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION:
   (I) "MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS" AND "MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY" MEANS A
 NUTRITIONAL  ASSESSMENT, NUTRITIONAL THERAPY, AND NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING
 PROVIDED BY A CERTIFIED DIETICIAN, CERTIFIED NUTRITIONIST, OR A  MEDICAL
 DOCTOR,  INCLUDING  THE PROVISION OF ANY FOOD INDICATED BY A NUTRITIONAL
 ASSESSMENT AND THE DELIVERY OF SUCH  FOOD,  ORDERED  BY  A  HEALTH  CARE
 PROFESSIONAL  ACTING WITHIN HIS OR HER LAWFUL SCOPE OF PRACTICE PURSUANT
 TO TITLE EIGHT OF THE EDUCATION LAW, FOR THE PURPOSE OF TREATING ONE  OR
 MORE CHRONIC CONDITIONS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL IS DIAGNOSED WITH.
   (II)  "CHRONIC  CONDITION" MEANS CANCER, DIABETES, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
 AND OTHER DEMENTIAS.
   (III) "MANAGED CARE PRODUCT" MEANS  A  CONTRACT  WHICH  REQUIRES  THAT
 MEDICAL  OR OTHER HEALTH CARE SERVICES COVERED UNDER THE CONTRACT, OTHER
 THAN EMERGENCY CARE SERVICES, BE PROVIDED BY, OR PURSUANT TO A  REFERRAL
 FROM,  A  PRIMARY  CARE PROVIDER, AND THAT SERVICES PROVIDED PURSUANT TO
 SUCH A REFERRAL BE RENDERED BY A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER  PARTICIPATING  IN
 THE INSURER'S MANAGED CARE PROVIDER NETWORK. IN ADDITION, A MANAGED CARE
 PRODUCT  SHALL  ALSO  MEAN  THE  IN-NETWORK  PORTION OF A CONTRACT WHICH
 REQUIRES THAT MEDICAL OR OTHER HEALTH CARE SERVICES  COVERED  UNDER  THE
 CONTRACT,  OTHER THAN EMERGENCY CARE SERVICES, BE PROVIDED BY, OR PURSU-
 ANT TO A REFERRAL FROM, A  PRIMARY  CARE  PROVIDER,  AND  THAT  SERVICES
 PROVIDED  PURSUANT  TO  SUCH  A  REFERRAL  BE  RENDERED BY A HEALTH CARE
 PROVIDER PARTICIPATING IN THE INSURER'S MANAGED CARE  PROVIDER  NETWORK,
 IN  ORDER  FOR  THE  INSURED TO BE ENTITLED TO THE MAXIMUM REIMBURSEMENT
 UNDER THE CONTRACT.
   (IV) "MEDICALLY TAILORED  MEAL  VENDOR"  IS  A  VENDOR  THAT  PROVIDES
 MEDICALLY   TAILORED   MEALS   ACCORDING  TO  THE  SPECIFICATIONS  IN  A
 PRESCRIPTION FROM A CERTIFIED DIETICIAN, CERTIFIED  NUTRITIONIST,  OR  A
 MEDICAL DOCTOR.
   (B) EVERY CONTRACT ISSUED BY A HEALTH SERVICE CORPORATION OR A MEDICAL
 EXPENSE INDEMNITY CORPORATION WHICH IS A MANAGED CARE PRODUCT AS DEFINED
 IN  SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBSECTION THAT PROVIDES
 COVERAGE FOR PHYSICIAN SERVICES  IN  A  PHYSICIAN'S  OFFICE,  AND  EVERY
 MANAGED  CARE  PRODUCT THAT PROVIDES MAJOR MEDICAL OR SIMILAR COMPREHEN-
 SIVE-TYPE COVERAGE, SHALL INCLUDE COVERAGE FOR MEDICALLY TAILORED  MEALS
 AND  MEDICAL  NUTRITION  THERAPY AS DEFINED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF PARA-
 GRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBSECTION,  PROVIDED  BY  A  CERTIFIED  DIETICIAN  OR
 CERTIFIED  NUTRITIONIST LICENSED PURSUANT TO SECTION EIGHT THOUSAND FOUR
 OF THE EDUCATION LAW AND PURSUANT TO 8 NYCCR 52.5 AND 8 NYCRR 79-6 OR  A
 MEDICAL DOCTOR, IN CONNECTION WITH THE MANAGEMENT OR TREATMENT OF ONE OR
 MORE CHRONIC CONDITIONS.
   (C) INDIVIDUAL COVERAGE IS LIMITED PER MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS OF ONE CHRON-
 IC  CONDITION.  COVERED INDIVIDUALS MAY RECEIVE COVERAGE OF A MAXIMUM OF
 TEN MEALS PER WEEK FOR A MAXIMUM DURATION OF THREE MONTHS FROM THE  DATE
 THE INDIVIDUAL RECEIVES ITS FIRST MEAL PRESCRIPTION PER A DIAGNOSIS OF A
 CHRONIC  CONDITION.  AN  INDIVIDUAL  MAY  RENEW  MEDICALLY TAILORED MEAL
 A. 8584                             5
 
 COVERAGE WITH AN ASSESSMENT AND RENEWED PRESCRIPTION  FROM  A  CERTIFIED
 DIETICIAN,  CERTIFIED  NUTRITIONIST  OR MEDICAL DOCTOR. THE MANAGED CARE
 PRODUCT SHALL PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR MEALS THAT COMPLY WITH THE  MEDICALLY
 TAILORED  MEAL  PRESCRIPTION FROM A PRE-APPROVED MEDICALLY TAILORED MEAL
 VENDOR. THE MEDICALLY TAILORED MEAL VENDOR SHALL HAVE A CERTIFIED DIETI-
 CIAN, CERTIFIED NUTRITIONIST OR MEDICAL DOCTOR REVIEW  AND  APPROVE  THE
 MENUS  PROVIDED  IN  RESPONSE  TO  A PRESCRIPTION FOR MEDICALLY TAILORED
 MEALS. ALL MEDICALLY TAILORED MEAL VENDORS SHALL BE PRE-APPROVED BY  THE
 MANAGED CARE PLAN.
   (D)  MEDICALLY  TAILORED  MEALS AND MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY SERVICES
 MAY BE SUBJECT TO REASONABLE  DEDUCTIBLE,  CO-PAYMENT  AND  CO-INSURANCE
 AMOUNTS,  REASONABLE  FEE  OR BENEFIT LIMITS, AND REASONABLE UTILIZATION
 REVIEW, PROVIDED THAT ANY SUCH AMOUNTS, LIMITS AND REVIEW: (I) SHALL NOT
 FUNCTION  TO  DIRECT  TREATMENT  IN  A  MANNER  DISCRIMINATIVE   AGAINST
 MEDICALLY  TAILORED MEALS AND MEDICAL NUTRITIONAL THERAPY CARE, AND (II)
 INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY SHALL BE NO MORE  RESTRICTIVE  THAN  THOSE
 APPLICABLE UNDER THE SAME CONTRACT TO CARE OR SERVICES PROVIDED BY OTHER
 HEALTH  PROFESSIONALS  IN  THE  DIAGNOSIS,  TREATMENT  AND MANAGEMENT OF
 CHRONIC DISEASES. NOTHING HEREIN CONTAINED SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS  IMPED-
 ING OR PREVENTING EITHER THE PROVISION OR COVERAGE OF MEDICALLY TAILORED
 MEALS AND MEDICAL NUTRITIONAL THERAPY CARE AND SERVICES BY A DULY CERTI-
 FIED  DIETICIAN,  CERTIFIED  NUTRITIONIST  OR MEDICAL DOCTOR, WITHIN THE
 LAWFUL SCOPE OF THEIR PRACTICE, IN HOSPITAL FACILITIES  ON  A  STAFF  OR
 EMPLOYEE BASIS.
   (E)  THE COVERAGE REQUIRED BY THIS SUBSECTION SHALL NOT BE ABRIDGED BY
 ANY REGULATION PROMULGATED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT.
   § 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,  amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation  of  this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
 completed on or before such effective date.