The proposed bill, Substitute House Bill No. 6975, mandates the Office of Health Strategy (OHS) to conduct a biennial study on payment parity for mental health services compared to other health care services under individual and group health insurance policies, as well as the HUSKY Health program. The study will assess whether there is equitable payment between providers of mental health services and those providing other types of health care services, specifically focusing on services covered under commercial health insurance and the HUSKY Health program. The OHS commissioner is required to report the findings to relevant legislative committees by January 1, 2026, and every two years thereafter.

The bill introduces new legal language that establishes the requirement for these studies and the reporting schedule, while it does not delete any existing legal language. The fiscal impact of the bill is estimated at $250,000 for the Office of Health Strategy to contract a consultant for the study, with this cost expected to recur every two years as the study is mandated to continue. The bill is effective upon passage and aims to ensure that mental health services are compensated fairly in relation to other health care services.