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 02/24/2019
Governor's Deadline 03/25/2019

2017

SB 1166
Introduced 01/2017
Sponsor Sen. Reeves
Status Dead 01/2017
Summary

Requires all commercial plans on market to provide coverage for at least two abuse deterrent opioids that are not subject to prior authorization in the lowest tier of the drug formulary.

SB 1590
Introduced 01/2017
Sponsor Sen. Wagner
Status 02/2017
Summary

This bill would amend the insurance section of state code by requiring all group plans and public employee plans to provide coverage for individuals two through twelve years old for autism spectrum disorder treatment and diagnosis. Currently coverage is only for individuals through age ten.

HB 1995
Introduced 01/2017
Sponsor Sen. Greason
Status Dead 02/2017
Sumary

This bill would amend the insurance section of state code by requiring all group plans and public employee plans to extend existing autism spectrum disorder diagnosis and treatment coverage to all age groups. Currently coverage is only for individuals through age ten.

2016

HB 984
Introduced 01/2016
Sponsor Rep. Lopez
Status Dead 02/2016
Summary

This bill would amend the insurance section of state code by requiring all group plans and public employee plans to cover autism spectrum disorder treatment and diagnosis for individuals ages two to fourteen. Currently coverage is only for individuals through age ten.

HB 255
Introduced 12/2015 (prefiled)
Sponsor Rep. Thomas Greason
Status Dead 02/2016
Summary

This bill amends the section of state insurance code by adding applied behavior analysis to the list of services insurers are required to cover. Additionally, the bill adds licensed behavior analyst or licensed assistant behavior analysts to providers defined under licensed mental health professionals.

2015

SB 1457
Introduced 01/2015
Sponsor Sen. Holtzman Vogel
Status Dead 02/2015
Summary

This bill tried to change the section of the insurance law about autism coverage so that there would be no age limit for required treatment.

2014

HB 1185
Introduced 01/2014
Sponsor Del. Spruill
Status Dead 02/2014
Summary

This bill tried to change the parity section of the insurance law. It would have required the following:

  • Plans must “give due consideration” to recommendations of the patient’s provider regarding inpatient care and residential treatment
  • Plans cannot deny coverage for inpatient care or partial hospitalization only based on their “subjective” determination that the patient is not a risk for suicide or danger to others if the patient’s provider disagrees
  • If a plan denies coverage of partial hospitalization by reasoning that outpatient care would have been more appropriate but the patient already received the treatment, the plan must cover how much they would have paid for the outpatient care

2013

SB 921
Introduced 01/2013
Sponsor Sen. Watkins
Status

Vetoed by the Governor 5/2013 (Governor’s veto message)

Summary

Among many other things, this bill tried to change the parity section of the state insurance law by clarifying that anything in this section does not apply if it conflicts with another section of the law related to implementing the Affordable Care Act. This part of the bill is identical to what is in HB 1900 from the same legislative session, which was signed into law.

2012

SB 542
Introduced 01/2012
Sponsor Sen. Howell
Status Dead 02/2012
Summary

This bill tried to change the section of the state insurance law about autism coverage by defining a “board certified behavior analyst” and removing the requirement that a board certified behavior analyst must be licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine.

2011

HB 2512
Senate Bill SB 1061
Introduced 01/2011
Sponsor Del. Hugo and Sen. Howell
Status Dead 02/2011
Summary

This bill tried to change state law so that state employee plans and other public employee plans would have to cover autism services. However, HB 2467/SB 1062 from the same legislative session, which was signed into law, did in fact accomplish this on the exact same terms that were in this bill. That section of the law is summarized at the bottom of this page under “Virginia Parity Law,” “Autism Coverage.”

2010

HB 34
Introduced 12/2009
Sponsor Del. Marshall
Status Dead 02/2010
Summary

This bill tried to add a section to the state insurance law about autism coverage. It is very similar to what is currently in the law (summarized at the bottom of this page under “Virginia Parity Law”, “Autism Coverage”). Here is how it is different than what is in the law now:

  • Requires coverage through age 20
  • Annual maximum of $36,000 for applied behavior analysis
  • No exemptions for plans if premiums rise by 1%
  • Does not cover services provided by a licensed clinical social worker
  • Does not apply to state employee plans and other public employee plans
HB 303
Introduced 01/2010
Sponsor Del. O'Bannon
Summary

This bill tried to add a section to the state insurance law about autism coverage. It is very similar to what is currently in the law (summarized at the bottom of this page under “Virginia Parity Law”, “Autism Coverage”). Here is how it is different than what is in the law now:

  • Requires coverage through age 9
  • Annual maximum of $36,000 for applied behavior analysis
  • No exemptions for plans if premiums rise by 1%
SB 464
Introduced 01/2010
Sponsor Sen. Howell
Status Dead 03/2010
Summary

This bill tried to add a section to the state insurance law about autism coverage. It is very similar to what is currently in the law (summarized at the bottom of this page under “Virginia Parity Law”, “Autism Coverage”). The only significant difference is that it only required coverage through age 6.

2009

HB 1588
Introduced 09/2008 (prefiled)
Sponsor Del. Marshall
Status Dead 02/2009
Summary

This bill tried to add a section to the state insurance law about autism coverage. It is very similar to what is currently in the law (summarized at the bottom of this page under “Virginia Parity Law”, “Autism Coverage”). Here is how it is different than what is in the law now:

  • Requires coverage through age 20
  • Annual maximum of $36,000 for applied behavior analysis
  • No exemptions for plans if premiums rise by 1%
  • Does not cover services provided by a licensed clinical social worker
  • Only exempts small employer fully-insured plans with 25 or fewer employees
  • Does not apply to state employee plans and other public employee plans
SB 1260
Introduced 01/2009
Sponsor Sen. Holtzman Vogel
Status Dead 02/2009
Summary

This bill tried to add a section to the state insurance law about autism coverage. It is very similar to what is currently in the law (summarized at the bottom of this page under “Virginia Parity Law”, “Autism Coverage”). Here is how it is different than what is in the law now:

  • Requires coverage through age 6
  • Annual maximum of $36,000 for applied behavior analysis
  • Does not cover services provided by a licensed clinical social worker
  • No exemptions for plans if premiums rise by 1%

National Parity Map

View the state parity reports to learn about legislation, regulation, and litigation related to parity implementation

National Parity Map

Get Support

  • Virginia Insurance Division
  • bureauofinsurance@scc.virginia.gov
  • 1-877-310-6560

Common Violations

In seeking care or services, be aware of the common ways parity rights can be violated.