NC H653

Each insurer offering a health benefit plan in North Carolina must submit an annual mental health and substance use disorder parity report to the Insurance Commissioner and Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services by March 1 of each year, beginning March 1, 2022.

Reports must include data from the two calendar years preceding submission and cover utilization review rates, prior authorization requests, appeal rates, claims payment percentages, cost-sharing requirements, and benefit limitations comparing mental health and substance use disorder services to medical and surgical services.

Reports must specify the number of in-network providers treating mental health and substance use disorders by type, and identify what percentage are licensed to practice in North Carolina versus contiguous states.

The Insurance Commissioner shall publish all submitted reports on the Department's website by July 1 of each year and may require additional data or metrics as needed to measure parity law compliance, while protecting privileged, confidential, and protected health information.

The act becomes effective January 1, 2022.