AK SB52

Requires health care insurers offering group market plans to five or more employees to provide coverage for treatment of mental health conditions, alcoholism, and drug abuse without financial distinctions from other medical care.

Eliminates differential cost-sharing for mental health treatment including payment limits, deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, visit limits, and prenotification requirements that are not applied to other medical services.

Removes restrictions on mental health benefits in the state health insurance plan, including the previous $4,000 yearly maximum limit for outpatient mental health services.

Expands the definition of "basic health care services" and "medical care" to explicitly include mental health care, alcoholism treatment, and substance abuse disorder treatment.

Takes effect July 1, 2011 and applies to all insurance plans, contracts, or policies offered or renewed on or after that date.