CT HB06517

Insurance Department must display a prominent link to the Office of the Healthcare Advocate's website on its internet portal, informing consumers that free assistance is available throughout the coverage decision process (effective October 1, 2013).

Insurance Commissioner shall analyze consumer report card data annually for statistically significant differences among health care centers and insurers, beginning with the report due October 15, 2013, and investigate any differences to determine if further action is warranted.

Insurance Commissioner must submit a report by September 1, 2013 describing the method to check mental health parity law compliance by health insurers, including examination of methods from the U.S. Department of Labor and URAC, and must hold at least one public meeting with stakeholders before implementing compliance checks by October 1, 2013.

Insurance Commissioner's annual March report must now include a summary of the department's mental health parity compliance check method and results of such checks (effective October 1, 2013).

Insurance Department shall request determination from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by July 31, 2013 on whether external review applicants may submit either a notice of adverse determination or health carrier identification card (rather than both), and comply with that determination or provide guidance to consumers accordingly.