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Marijuana plants

(Associated Press)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- New York health insurers cannot refuse to pay for doctor office visits just because they result in patients being approved for medical marijuana, the state announced today.

The state Department of Financial Services said insurers must cover these visits as long as getting medical marijuana is not the sole purpose of the visit.

Before patients can get medical marijuana in New York state, a doctor must certify they are eligible for the drug because they have cancer, chronic pain or another qualifying medical condition. Certification is necessary before a patient can get a medical marijuana card from the state and buy the drug from a dispensary.

The agency said insurers must cover visits that result in medical marijuana certifications as long as patients get other health services during the visit.

While insurers must cover these types of visits, they do not cover the medical marijuana itself, which patients must pay for out of pocket.

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