A bill to provide for equal coverage of mental health benefits with respect to health insurance coverage unless comparable limitations are imposed on medical and surgical benefits.
Exempts specified small employers from such requirements (any employer who employed an average of at least 2 but not more than 50 employees on business days during the preceding calendar year).
Requires that, in the case of a group health plan that offers a participant or beneficiary two or more benefit package options, the coverage requirements shall be applied separately with respect to each such option.
Provides that, in the case of a plan or insurance providing in-network mental health benefits, out-of-network mental health benefits need not be provided at parity to medical-surgical benefits, as long as in-network mental health benefits are provided at parity with medical-surgical benefits and the plan or insurance provides reasonable access to in-network providers and facilities.
Requires a General Accounting Office study of such requirements' effects upon health insurance costs, access, and quality.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
Introduced in Senate
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2393-2394)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2394-2395)
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Kennedy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 107-61. Additional views filed.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Kennedy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 107-61. Additional views filed.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 153.
checking server…
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line