(a) Every policy of health insurance covering hospital, medical, or surgical expenses that is issued, amended, renewed, or delivered in this state on or after July 1, 1999, shall cover reconstructive surgery, as defined in subdivision (c), that is necessary to achieve the purposes specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c). Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a policy to provide coverage for cosmetic surgery, as defined in subdivision (d). This section shall only apply to health benefit plans, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 10198.6, except that for accident only, specified disease, or hospital indemnity insurance, coverage for benefits under this section shall apply to the extent that the benefits are covered under the general terms and conditions that apply to all other benefits under the policy. Nothing in this section shall be construed as imposing a new benefit mandate on accident only, specified disease, or hospital indemnity insurance.

(b) No individual, other than a licensed physician competent to evaluate the specific clinical issues involved in the care requested, may deny initial requests for authorization of coverage for treatment pursuant to this section. For a treatment authorization request submitted by a podiatrist or an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, the request may be reviewed by a similarly licensed individual, competent to evaluate the specific clinical issues involved in the care requested.

(c) (1) “Reconstructive surgery” means surgery performed to correct or repair abnormal structures of the body caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors, or disease to do either of the following:

(A) To improve function.

(B) To create a normal appearance, to the extent possible.

(2) As of July 1, 2010, “reconstructive surgery” shall include medically necessary dental or orthodontic services that are an integral part of reconstructive surgery, as defined in paragraph (1), for cleft palate procedures.

(3) For purposes of this section, “cleft palate” means a condition that may include cleft palate, cleft lip, or other craniofacial anomalies associated with cleft palate.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an insurer to provide coverage for cosmetic surgery. “Cosmetic surgery” means surgery that is performed to alter or reshape normal structures of the body in order to improve the patient’s appearance.

(e) In interpreting the definition of reconstructive surgery, an insurer may utilize prior authorization and utilization review that may include, but need not be limited to, any of the following:

(1) Denial of the proposed surgery if there is another more appropriate surgical procedure that will be approved for the enrollee.

(2) Denial of the proposed surgery or surgeries if the procedure or procedures, in accordance with the standard of care as practiced by physicians specializing in reconstructive surgery, offer only a minimal improvement in the appearance of the enrollee.

(3) Denial of payment for procedures performed without prior authorization.

(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 604, Sec. 2. (SB 630) Effective January 1, 2010.)