Mental Health and Wellness Act (HB2847)

• Creates requirement for insurance policies, managed care plans, and self-insured health plans to cover one annual mental health prevention and wellness visit per year with no cost-sharing for children and adults, effective January 1, 2025.

• Mental health prevention and wellness visits include age-appropriate screenings, discussion of mental health symptoms, evaluation of adverse childhood experiences, and wellness discussions; visits may last up to 60 minutes and be provided by physicians, psychologists, social workers, counselors, and other licensed mental health professionals.

• Visits are reimbursed using standard medical procedure codes (99381-99397) at rates comparable to other medical care, and cannot be denied when occurring same-day with other services by a primary care provider.

• Directs Department of Public Health to conduct public educational campaign on mental health and wellness, including expanded mental health coverage, in coordination with multiple state agencies and using culturally competent messaging.

• Applies to state employees, county employees, municipal employees, and school district employees through amendments to respective health insurance requirements in state law.