Freedom of choice; doctor of oriental medicine.

A. Within the area and limits of coverage offered an insured and selected by him in the application for insurance, for vehicle insurance medical payments as defined in Subsection D of Section 59A-7-7 NMSA 1978, the right of any person to exercise full freedom of choice in the selection of any licensed doctor of oriental medicine for treatment within his scope of practice shall not be restricted under any new policy of vehicle insurance issued after July 1, 1997 in this state or in the processing of any claim made pursuant to that policy. Any person insured or claiming benefits under the medical payments portion of such vehicle insurance policy providing within its coverage for payment of benefits or indemnity for any condition or circumstance described in Subsection D of Section 59A-7-7 NMSA 1978 shall be deemed to have complied with the requirements of the policy as to submission of proof of loss upon submitting written proof supported by any doctor of oriental medicine. B. As used in this section, "doctor of oriental medicine" means a person licensed as a doctor of oriental medicine pursuant to the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Practice Act [Chapter 61, Article 14A NMSA 1978].