MS HB693

Amends Section 83-9-37 to clarify that "mental illness" includes substance use disorders in addition to psychiatric diseases identified in current medical classification standards.

Adds new definition of "health insurance issuer" to include entities offering health benefit plans and health maintenance organizations regulated under state law.

Adds new definition of "nonquantitative treatment limitation" (NQTL) as any non-numerical limit on the scope or duration of benefits for treatment.

Requires health insurance issuers providing mental illness coverage to submit annual reports to the Commissioner by July 1 documenting their medical necessity criteria, NQTLs, and analyses showing mental illness benefits are treated comparably to medical and surgical benefits.

Takes effect July 1, 2022.