This bill amends RSA 417-E:1 to ensure that insurers providing accident or health insurance, nonprofit health service corporations, and health maintenance organizations in New Hampshire offer benefits for the treatment and diagnosis of certain biologically-based mental illnesses. The coverage must adhere to access standards established in RSA 420-J:7 and align with the scope of coverage and reimbursement rates of New Hampshire Medicaid. The bill specifies that the benefits for these mental illnesses must be no less extensive than those provided for physical illnesses, and it lists specific mental health conditions that must be covered, including schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and chronic post-traumatic stress disorder.

Additionally, the bill introduces new requirements for reimbursement terms in contracts with participating providers, mandating that these terms for mental health and substance use disorder treatment services be at least as favorable as those for non-hospital affiliated primary care providers. It replaces references to "Medicare" with "Medicaid" in the context of reimbursement standards, ensuring that mental health providers receive comparable compensation for their services. The bill also grants the commissioner the authority to enforce compliance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 and requires periodic reviews of health insurers' compliance with these standards. The act will take effect upon its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 417-E:1
SB646 text: 417-E:1