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2015 SESSION

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HB 1747 Health insurance; mental health parity.

Introduced by: John M. O'Bannon, III | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Health insurance; mental health parity. Conforms certain requirements regarding coverage for mental health and substance use disorders to provisions of the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (the Act). The measure requires that group and individual health insurance coverage provide mental health and substance use disorder benefits. Such benefits shall be in parity with the medical and surgical benefits contained in the coverage in accordance with the Act, even where those requirements would not otherwise apply directly. The measure requires the Bureau of Insurance to develop reporting requirements regarding denied claims, complaints, and appeals involving such coverage and to compile the information into an annual report. The bill contains a technical amendment.

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Health insurance; mental health parity. Conforms certain requirements regarding coverage for mental health and substance use disorders to provisions of the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. The measure requires that group and individual health insurance coverage shall provide mental health and substance use disorder benefits. Such benefits shall be in parity with the medical and surgical benefits contained in the coverage in accordance with the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, even where those requirements would not otherwise apply directly. The measure requires any health insurer whose policy, contract or plan provides coverage for mental health and substance use disorder benefits to provide to the Bureau of Insurance information regarding the rates at which claims for mental health and substance use disorder benefits are denied under each policy, contract, or plan it provides. The Bureau shall make annual reports available to the public. The reports shall provide the means to compare the rates at which each insurer, for each of its policies, contracts, and plans, has denied claims for mental health and substance use disorder benefits. The bill includes a technical amendment.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Health insurance; mental health parity. Conforms certain requirements regarding coverage for mental health and substance use disorders to provisions of the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. The measure requires that group and individual health insurance coverage shall provide mental health and substance use disorder benefits. Such benefits shall be in parity with the medical and surgical benefits contained in the coverage in accordance with the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, even where those requirements would not otherwise apply directly. The measure requires any health insurer whose policy, contract or plan provides coverage for mental health and substance use disorder benefits to provide to the Bureau of Insurance information regarding the rates at which claims for mental health and substance use disorder benefits are denied under each policy, contract, or plan it provides. The Bureau shall make annual reports available to the public. The reports shall provide the means to compare the rates at which each insurer, for each of its policies, contracts, and plans, has denied claims for mental health and substance use disorder benefits.