MO HB1493

Requires all health carriers and health benefit plans issued in Missouri on or after January 1, 2015, to provide coverage for diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders.

Mandates coverage for medical, psychological, nutritional, and psychiatric treatment including inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and follow-up outpatient care based on American Psychiatric Association guidelines.

Prohibits health carriers from denying eligibility, reducing provider reimbursement, or providing incentives to limit eating disorder treatment, and prohibits denying coverage or renewal based on previous eating disorder diagnosis or treatment.

Requires eating disorder coverage to have the same deductibles and co-payments as other health care services with no limits on approved treatment days, determined jointly by providers and the client's treatment team.

Exempts supplemental insurance policies, life care contracts, accident-only policies, Medicare supplement policies, and short-term major medical policies of six months or less from these requirements.