NC H634

Requires all health benefit plans to provide coverage for mental health conditions that is no less favorable than coverage for physical health conditions, including equal deductibles, copayments, and annual/lifetime limits

Mandates that medical necessity determinations for substance use disorders rely solely on the most recent American Society of Addiction Medicine criteria, rather than allowing insurers to develop their own criteria

Updates statutory terminology by replacing "chemical dependency" with "substance use disorder" and "mental illness" with "mental health condition" throughout relevant insurance statutes

Requires the State Treasurer to review all State Health Plan practices and third-party utilization review contracts for compliance by the start of the next plan year

Effective October 1, 2025, applying to insurance contracts issued, renewed, or amended on or after that date