HB 277 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
05/30/2019 2343s
2019 SESSION
19-0529
01/05
HOUSE BILL 277
AN ACT relative to mental health parity under the insurance laws.
SPONSORS: Rep. Knirk, Carr. 3; Rep. Nutting, Hills. 32; Rep. Campion, Graf. 12; Rep. Fothergill, Coos 1; Sen. Sherman, Dist 24; Sen. Hennessey, Dist 5
COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill authorizes the insurance commissioner to enforce the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 and requires the commissioner to examine and evaluate health insurers, health service corporations, and health maintenance organizations for compliance.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
05/30/2019 2343s 19-0529
01/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen
AN ACT relative to mental health parity under the insurance laws.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Coverage for Certain Biologically-Based Mental Illnesses. Amend RSA 417-E:1, II to read as follows:
II. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each insurer that issues or renews any policy of [group] accident or health insurance and each nonprofit health service corporation under RSA 420-A and health maintenance organization under RSA 420-B providing benefits for disease or sickness in the state of New Hampshire shall provide benefits for treatment and diagnosis of certain biologically-based mental illnesses under the same terms and conditions and which are no less extensive than coverage provided for any other type of health care for physical illness.
2 Coverage for Certain Biologically-Based Mental Illnesses. Amend RSA 417-E:1, V to read as follows:
V. The commissioner shall have the authority to enforce the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (the Act), including any amendments thereto and any federal rules adopted thereunder, and may adopt rules, under RSA 541-A, as may be necessary to effectuate any provisions of the [Mental Health Parity Act of 2008] Act that relate to the business of insurance.
V-a. Under examination authority in RSA 400-A:37, the commissioner shall periodically examine and evaluate health insurers, health service corporations, and health maintenance organizations for compliance with this chapter and with the Act. Such examination and evaluation shall include provider reimbursement practices. The result of such examinations and evaluations shall be made public to the fullest extent allowed under RSA 400-A:37.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2020.