Idaho

Idaho’s parity law is found in Title 67 Chapter 57 Section 61A of the state’s laws about State Government and State Affairs. This is not a comprehensive parity law because it only applies to certain behavioral health conditions. The law also only applies to state government employees and their spouses and children. This means that it does not apply to the vast majority of people in Idaho.

These are the behavioral health conditions covered by the law:

1. Schizophrenia
2. Paranoia and other psychotic disorders
3. Bipolar disorder
4. Major depressive disorders
5. Schizoaffective disorder
6. Panic disorder
7. Obsessive compulsive disorders

Insurance plans for state government employees must provide coverage for these conditions “in a manner that is equitable and commensurate” to other medical conditions.

The law also requires plans for state government employees to provide coverage for children with “serious emotional disturbances.” This coverage must be “no more restrictive” than coverage for other medical care. Serious emotional disturbances are defined as: “emotional or behavioral disorder, or a neuropsychiatric condition which results in a serious disability, and which requires sustained treatment interventions, and causes the child’s functioning to be impaired in thought, perception, affect or behavior.” This section of the law also makes it clear that substance use disorders do not count as serious emotional disorders, according to Idaho state law.