Below is the relevant legislation related to parity that has been introduced during the current or recently adjourned legislative session. State parity legislation passed in any state since 2008 is usually designed to increase compliance with the federal law and to strengthen state laws.

Are we missing any passed or introduced legislation? Let us know at info@paritytrack.org.

Introduced Legislation

Regular Session Adjourned 3/29/2019
Will Convene N/A
Governor's Deadline 4/10/2019

2016

HB 628
Introduced 3/2016
Sponsor Reps. Overly, Belcher, Bunch, Horlander, King, Steele, Stumbo, Tackett, Westrom, Yonts
Status Dead 3/2016
Summary This bill tried to amend the section of state law on coverage for autism spectrum disorder so that it applied to all health benefit plans, not just large group plans.
HB 378
Introduced 2/2016
Sponsor Rep. Jenkins
Status Dead 3/2016
Summary
This bill tried to amend a section of state law that addressed involuntary treatment for alcohol and other drug use disorders. Among other things, it required that any involuntary treatment for a substance use disorder covered by Medicaid must be subject to the same medical necessity criteria and reimbursement for other behavioral health services. It also requires that involuntary substance use disorder treatment covered by private insurers must comply with the Federal Parity Law.

2013

HB 299
Introduced 2/2013
Sponsor Reps. Damron and Sinnette
Status Dead 2/2013
Summary Among many other things, this bill tried to change state law so that Medicaid managed care organizations would have to comply with the sections of the state insurance law about parity.
SB 178
Introduced 2/2013
Sponsor Rep. Jenkins
Status Dead 3/2013
Summary Among many other things, this bill tried to change state law so that Medicaid managed care organizations would have to comply with the sections of the state insurance law about parity.

2012

HB 566
Introduced 2/2012
Sponsor Reps Thompson, DeWeese, Jenkins, and Santoro
Status Dead 3/2012
Summary This was a comprehensive bill that related to managed care organizations that contracted with the Department for Medicaid Services. Among other things, it required that these managed care organizations comply with the federal parity law.

2010

SB 155
Introduced 2/2010
Sponsor Sens. Schickel and Buford
Status Dead 2/2010
Summary
Among other things, this bill tried to change the state insurance law by adding new sections about parity and repealing sections that are currently in place. These new sections applied to only large employer fully-insured plans and included:
  • Specifies that plans cannot use any annual maximum, lifetime maximum, financial requirement, or treatment limitation for behavioral health services that is more restrictive than what is in place for other medical services
  • Costs for behavioral health services and other medical services all count towards the same deductible
  • Plans must make criteria for medical necessity determinations available upon request
  • Reasons for denials of coverage for behavioral health services must be made available to enrollees
  • Plans must cover out-of-network services for behavioral health if they do so for other medical services
  • Specifies that behavioral health treatment includes:
    • Outpatient care
    • Inpatient care
    • Rehabilitation
    • Residential treatment
    • Partial hospitalization
    • Day treatment
    • Emergency detoxification
    • Crisis stabilization services
SB 13
Introduced 9/2009 (prefiled)
Sponsor Sens. Jones, Boswell Harper Angel, Turner, Webb
Status Dead 1/2010
Summary
This bill tried to change the sections of the state insurance law about autism coverage. Here is how it is different than what is currently in those sections of the insurance law (which is summarized at the bottom of the page under “Kentucky Parity Law,” “Autism Coverage):
  • No age limit for treatment and no differing categories of treatment based on age
  • No annual maximums for coverage
  • No language exempting plans from paying for equipment and supplies or from reimbursing unlicensed professionals

2009

SB 74
HB 190
Introduced 2/2009
Sponsor Sen. Jones and Rep. Brinkman
Status Dead 3/2009
Summary
This bill tried to change the sections of the state insurance law about autism coverage. Here is how it is different than what is currently in those sections of the insurance law (which is summarized at the bottom of the page under “Kentucky Parity Law,” “Autism Coverage):
  • No age limit for treatment and no differing categories of treatment based on age
  • No annual maximums for coverage
  • No language exempting plans from paying for equipment and supplies or from reimbursing unlicensed professionals
SB 54
Introduced 2/2009
Sponsor Sen. Jones
Status Dead 2/2009
Summary
This bill tried to change the sections of the state insurance law about autism coverage. Here is how it is different than what is currently in those sections of the insurance law (which is summarized at the bottom of the page under “Kentucky Parity Law,” “Autism Coverage):
  • No age limit for treatment and no differing categories of treatment based on age
  • No annual maximums for coverage
  • No language exempting plans from paying for equipment and supplies or from reimbursing unlicensed professionals
  • Does not apply to state employee plans

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Common Violations

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Common Violations