Minnesota Statutes

The bill prohibits individual and group health insurance policies from applying NQTLs on MH/SUD benefits that are not also equitably applied to med/surgical benefits. Additionally, the bill requires mental health therapy visits and medication maintenance visits to be considered primary care visits for the purpose of cost-sharing requirements. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Commerce with the Commissioner of Health to submit a report to the legislature detailing parity overview and enforcement activities. Such report must be written in nontechnical, readily understandable language and must be made available to the public

Authorizes the early intensive developmental and behavioral intervention (EIDBI) benefit to provide early intensive intervention to a person with an autism spectrum disorder or a related condition. This benefit must provide coverage for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary evaluation, ongoing progress monitoring, and medically necessary early intensive treatment of autism spectrum disorder or a related condition. Nothing in this section shall preclude coverage for other medical assistance benefits based on a person’s diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder or a related condition, including, but not limited to, coverage under section 256B.0943 of children’s therapeutic services and supports.

Enacted by 2013 Minn. H.F. No. 1233; most recently amended by Minn. S.F. No. 3326.

Among many other things, this comprehensive bill changed a section of the state insurance law so that mental health crisis services are considered emergency services. It also requires Medicaid plans to cover consultation services provided by licensed clinical social workers and licensed marriage and family therapists to a primary care physician.

(a) A health plan issued to a large employer, as defined in section 62Q.18, subdivision 1, must provide coverage for the diagnosis, evaluation, multidisciplinary assessment, and medically necessary care of children under 18 with autism spectrum disorders, including but not limited to the following:
(1) early intensive behavioral and developmental therapy based in behavioral and developmental science, including, but not limited to, all types of applied behavior analysis, intensive early intervention behavior therapy, and intensive behavior intervention;
(2) neurodevelopmental and behavioral health treatments and management;
(3) speech therapy;
(4) occupational therapy;
(5) physical therapy; and
(6) medications.

Enacted by Minn. H.F. No. 1233.

Subdivision 1. Essential health benefits package.
(a) Health plan companies offering individual and small group health plans must include the essential health benefits package required under section 1302(a) of the Affordable Care Act and as described in this subdivision.
(b) The essential health benefits package means coverage that:
(1) provides essential health benefits as outlined in the Affordable Care Act;
(2) limits cost-sharing for such coverage in accordance with the Affordable Care Act, as described in subdivision 2; and
(3) subject to subdivision 3, provides bronze, silver, gold, or platinum level of coverage in accordance with the Affordable Care Act.
Subd. 4. Essential health benefits; definition. — For purposes of this section, “essential health benefits” has the meaning given under section 1302(b) of the Affordable Care Act and includes:
. . . (6) mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment;

Enacted by Minn. H.F. No. 779.

All health plans must meet the requirements of the federal Mental Health Parity Act of 1996, Public Law 104-204; Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008; the Affordable Care Act; and any amendments to, and federal guidance or regulations issued under, those acts.

Enacted by Minn. H.F. No. 779.

Among many other things, this bill changed the state insurance law to add the section that requires insurance plans to cover services for autism and it also requires state employee plans to abide by this section. It also changed state law so that Medicaid plans must cover consultation provided by psychologists and an advanced practice registered nurses certified in psychiatric mental health to a primary care physician (a summary of the section of the state insurance law about autism coverage can be found at the bottom of the page).

All health plan companies that provide coverage for mental health services must cover or provide mental health services ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction under a court order that is issued on the basis of a behavioral care evaluation performed by a licensed psychiatrist or a doctoral level licensed psychologist, which includes a diagnosis and an individual treatment plan for care in the most appropriate, least restrictive environment.

Enacted by Minn. H.F. No. 3163.