SB 99 Summary

• Requires individual and group health insurance policies to cover mental health services including inpatient hospitalization, outpatient services, detoxification, residential treatment, and various screening services (trauma, depression, substance use).

• Prohibits insurance policies from imposing greater financial burdens for mental health diagnosis or treatment compared to physical health conditions, and prohibits limits on the number of assessment visits to diagnose a condition.

• Allows multiple screening services to be covered during a single-day visit to a health care provider or multicare institution without separate restrictions.

• Extends mental health benefits coverage to licensed psychologists, clinical social workers, marital and family therapists, alcohol and drug counselors, professional counselors, and advanced practice registered nurses, in addition to physicians.

• Adds new coverage requirement for consultations with mental health providers that include the insured or family members during initial assessments and after diagnosis, effective January 1, 2017.