HB 18-1357 Summary

• Establishes an independent Office of the Ombudsman for Behavioral Health Access to Care within the Office of the Executive Director to assist consumers and providers with behavioral health care access and coverage issues.

• Governor must designate an ombudsman by November 1, 2018, who operates with full independence and autonomy over office operations, budget, and personnel decisions.

• Ombudsman duties include assisting with mental health and substance use disorder care access, tracking complaints about treatment limitations, providing referrals to regulatory agencies, and helping consumers file appeals.

• Requires the Commissioner of Insurance to report biennially (starting March 1, 2019) to the legislature on methodology and outcomes of market conduct examinations verifying carrier compliance with mental health parity laws.

• Appropriates $85,695 to the Department of Human Services and $8,355 to the Division of Insurance for implementation in fiscal year 2018-19.