MN HF1974

Commissioners of health and commerce shall convene a 13-member work group to make recommendations on the most effective approach to determine and demonstrate mental health and substance use disorder parity for individual and group health plans in Minnesota.

Work group membership includes two health plan representatives from individual market, two from group market, three state commissioners (health, commerce, management and budget), two employers, two mental health/substance use providers, and two advocates from the mental health and substance use disorder community.

Final report must be written in nontechnical, readily understandable language and posted on Department of Health and Department of Commerce websites, including recommendations for demonstrating parity for regulatory purposes and communicating parity determinations publicly to consumers.

Report must include summaries of state enforcement actions during the preceding 12 months regarding health plan compliance with parity laws, regulatory actions taken, and recommendations on educating the public about parity protections.

Commissioners of health and commerce shall jointly report work group recommendations to legislative committee chairs by February 15, 2019, with the first work group meeting convened by August 1, 2018.