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 Convened 01/09/2019
Will Adjourn 05/10/2019
Governor's Deadline 05/28/2019

2019

Primary Focus Medical management limitation
Title/Description An act relating to limiting prior authorization requirements for medication-assisted treatment
Citation SB 43
Introduced 01/22/2019
Sponsor Sen. Lyons (D)
Status Signed into law
Summary

This bill requires at least one formulation of each MAT drug to be on the lowest tier of the drug formulary. The bill eliminates prior authorization for MAT drugs and associated counseling and therapy for commercial plans and mandates report about the impact of prior authorization in Medicaid.

2017-2018

H 124
Introduced 01/2017
Sponsor Rep. Donahue
Status Died in committee
Summary

This bill tries to change the section of the insurance law about behavioral health coverage in the following ways:

  • Health plans cannot use a prior authorization process for behavioral health care that differs from the prior authorization process for other medical care unless the health plan can demonstrate that “the requirement is necessary to provide timely and appropriate mental health care, as supported by evidence-based clinical standards.”
  • Health plans may no longer use a third-party company to provide behavioral health coverage.
  • Health plans must manage behavioral health benefits the same way they do for other medical benefits unless the health plans can demonstrate that the “differentiation is necessary to provide timely and appropriate mental health care, as supported by evidence-based clinical standards”.
  • Specifies that the any regulations issued by the Commissioner of the Department of Financial Regulations about behavioral health insurance coverage ensure that behavioral health care is as “accessible” as coverage for other medical care and that any utilization review requirements for behavioral health care are not more burdensome than those in place for other medical care.

2015-2016

H 543
Introduced 01/2016
Sponsor Rep. Donahue
Status Dead 01/2016
Summary

This bill tried to change the section of the law that requires health insurers to cover telemedicine services. It adds a section which defines health care provider. The section includes a variety of mental health and substance use disorder providers.

H 716
Introduced 01/2016
Sponsor Rep. Buxton
Status Dead 01/2016
Summary

This bill tried to change the section of state law on health coverage for mental health and substance use disorders . Among other things, it requires health plans covering substance use disorder treatment to cover inpatient care for the duration of an enrollee’s withdrawal, unless the provider recommends the enrollee transition to outpatient services prior to completing their detox.

S 59
Introduced 02/2015
Sponsor Senator Mulin
Status Dead 02/2016
Summary

This bill amends the section of state law that addresses prescription drug coverage. It requires that health plans that provide coverage for prescription drugs shall include abuse-deterrent pain relieving medications as s preferred drug on their prescription drug formulary.

H 101
Introduced 01/2015
Sponsor Rep. Donahue
Status Dead 01/2015
Summary

This bill tries to change on of the sections of the state insurance law relevant to parity by doing the following:

2011-2012

H 498
Introduced 01/2012
Sponsor Rep. Donahue
Status Dead 03/2012
Summary

This bill tried to change a section of the state insurance law relevant to parity by requiring plans to have copayments for behavioral health services that are “no greater” than copayments for other medical services. This bill was adopted into H 559 from the same legislative session. H 559 was signed into law and is summarized above in “Legislation Signed into Law.”

H 736
Introduced 02/2012
Sponsor Rep. Lorber
Status Dead 02/2012
Summary

This bill tried to change the section of the state insurance law about autism coverage before that section of the law was substantially changed by a different bill from the same legislative session (S 223). Here are the significant improvements to the autism section of state insurance law that this bill would have made that were not made by S 223:

  • Would have allowed an insurance plan to only review a child’s treatment plan once every 12 months
H 355
Introduced 02/2011
Sponsor Rep. O'Brien
Status Dead 02/2011
Summary

This bill tried to change the section of the state insurance law about autism coverage before that section of the law was substantially changed by a different bill from the same legislative session (S 223). Here are the significant improvements to the autism section of state insurance law that this bill would have made that were not made by S 223

  • Would have aged the age limit for coverage to age 22
  • Would have allowed an insurance plan to only review a child’s treatment plan once every 12 months

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Common Violations

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