Ohio House Bill 443 - Mental Health Parity

Regarding mental health and substance use disorder benefit parity.

SUMMARY:

• Repeals state law provisions requiring parity between standard medical benefits and mental health benefits in favor of the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA), thereby ultimately reducing the number of health benefit plans required to provide mental health parity.
• Repeals certain mental health coverage minimum requirements that apply to sickness and accident insurers.
• Amends the Health Insuring Corporation Law in relation mental health benefits. Requires health benefit plans subject to the MHPAEA to report to the Superintendent of Insurance or Department of Medicaid, as applicable, on parity compliance.
• Prohibits certain coverage limitations for health benefit plans subject to the MHPAEA for drugs prescribed in relation to a substance use disorder.
• Requires the Superintendent of Insurance to produce an annual report on MHPAEA enforcement.
• Requires the Department of Medicaid to produce a biennial report on MHPAEA compliance.

PRIMARY SPONSORS:

Representatives Plummer and Russo

SECONDARY SPONSORS:

Representatives Blair, Boggs, Boyd, Brent, Clites, Crossman, Leland, Lepore-Hagan, Lightbody, Liston, Manning, Miller, Miranda, Robinson, Scherer, Seitz, Skindell, Smith, Sobecki, Strahorn, Sweeney, Upchurch, Weinstein, and West

COMMITTEE:

House Health Committee

COMPANION BILL:

SB 254

LINK TO BILL:

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA133-HB-443

LEGISLATION STATUS:

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-status?id=GA133-HB-443

BILL STATUS:

House Activity

Introduced in the House on 12/09/2019

Referred to Committee on 12/11/2019