FL S0182

Expands mental health coverage requirements for group health insurance to include specific disorders: schizophrenia, psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance abuse disorders, eating disorders, and childhood ADD/ADHD with benefits equal to physical illness coverage.

Maintains alternative benefit limits for other mental health disorders not listed above, including inpatient benefits limited to 45 days per benefit year and outpatient benefits limited to 60 visits per benefit year.

Allows insurers to use financial incentives, peer review, utilization requirements, and benefit management methods to reduce costs without compromising care quality.

Exempts group health plans from these requirements if implementation would increase coverage costs by more than 2 percent, as certified by an independent actuary to the Office of Insurance Regulation.

Repeals the separate statute on optional coverage for substance abuse impaired persons and requires converted group policies to offer mental health benefits that were provided in the original group plan, effective January 1, 2011.