State health benefits plan to provide benefits for orthotic and prosthetic appliances

9. a. The State Health Benefits Commission shall ensure that every contract purchased by the commission on or after the effective date of P.L.2007, c.345 (C.17:48-6ff et al.) that provides hospital or medical expense benefits, shall provide benefits to any person covered thereunder for expenses incurred in obtaining: (1) an orthotic or prosthetic appliance from any licensed orthotist or prosthetist, licensed podiatrist, or any certified pedorthist, as determined medically necessary by the covered person's physician; and (2) an additional orthotic or prosthetic appliance from any licensed orthotist or prosthetist, licensed podiatrist, or any certified pedorthist, if the covered person's physician determines that the additional appliance is necessary to enable the covered person to engage in physical and recreational activities, including running, bicycling, swimming, climbing, skiing, snowboarding, and team and individual sports. As used in this section, "orthotic appliance," "prosthetic appliance," "licensed orthotist" and "licensed prosthetist" have the meaning assigned to them in section 3 of P.L.1991, c.512 (C.45:12B-3), "licensed podiatrist" has the meaning assigned to it in R.S.45:5-1 et seq., and "certified pedorthist" has the meaning assigned to it in subsection j. of section 18 of P.L.1991, c.512 (C.45:12B-18). b. On and after the effective date of P.L.2007, c.345 (C.17:48-6ff et al.), a contract purchased by the commission shall reimburse for orthotic and prosthetic appliances at the same rate as reimbursement for such appliances under the federal Medicare reimbursement schedule. c. The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other medical condition under the contract.