House Bill No. 1396 aims to enhance coverage for mental health conditions and substance use disorders under certain governmental health benefit plans in Texas. The bill amends various sections of the Insurance Code to clarify the applicability of specific chapters related to health benefit plans. Notably, it introduces new provisions that specify the types of plans that must comply with the subchapter, including basic coverage plans under Chapters 1551, 1575, and 1601, as well as primary care coverage plans under Chapter 1579. Additionally, it establishes that compliance with treatment limitations will be enforced by the applicable trustees or boards for these plans.

The bill also repeals a previous provision in Section 1355.003(b) and specifies that the changes will only apply to plan years commencing on or after January 1, 2026. Plans that began before this date will continue to be governed by the existing law. The effective date for this Act is set for September 1, 2025. Overall, the bill seeks to ensure that mental health and substance use disorder coverage is adequately addressed in governmental health benefit plans, promoting better access to necessary care for these conditions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Insurance Code 1355.002, Insurance Code 1355.003, Insurance Code 1355.015, Insurance Code 1355.252, Insurance Code 1355.255 (Insurance Code 1355)