HS HCS HB 1440 -- HEALTH INSURANCE (Harlan)

This substitute requires health carriers that offer health
benefit plans in this state on or after January 1, 2003, to
provide coverage for mental health conditions.  Mental health
conditions are defined as those listed in the most recent edition
of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Coverage for mental health conditions cannot have rates, terms,
or conditions that place a greater financial burden on an insured
for mental health treatment than for physical health treatment.
The substitute does not apply to supplemental insurance policies.

The substitute also modifies some of the standards for chemical
dependency coverage and repeals several sections relating to
mental illness and addictive disorders.  The sections repealed
include current exceptions to the requirement that health
insurers who cover services for mental illness and addictive
disorders provide the same coverage as they do for physical
illness.  These include exceptions that allow insurers to limit
inpatient hospital treatment for mental illness to 90 days per
year (Section 376.811.2, RSMo), place annual and lifetime limits
on alcohol and drug abuse treatment services (Section 376.827),
and exclude or apply different limits to certain specified
services (Section 376.833).

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Income to Insurance Dedicated Fund of
$9,850 in FY 2003, $0 in FY 2004, $0 in FY 2005.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:01 am