OH SB15

Expands mental health and substance abuse coverage requirements by removing the restriction to only "biologically based" mental illnesses and including all mental illnesses and substance abuse/addiction conditions as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or International Classification of Diseases.

Requires health insurers, health insuring corporations, and employer group self-insurance plans to provide benefits for diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses and substance abuse conditions on the same terms and conditions as physical diseases, including coverage of inpatient services, outpatient services, medications, deductibles, and copayments.

Allows insurers and employers to negotiate separately with mental health providers, manage benefits through pre-admission screening and prior authorization, and offer mental health-only policies, but prohibits discriminatory treatment compared to physical health coverage.

Permits insurers and employers to request exemptions from mental health coverage requirements if documented actuarial evidence shows mental health claims independently increased costs by more than one percent annually and justify premium increases of more than one percent.

Repeals existing sections 3923.28, 3923.29, and 3923.30 and revises multiple Revised Code sections to harmonize mental health and substance abuse coverage provisions across insurance types and self-funded plans.