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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 2, 2020 12:59 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Thomas H. Killion |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity |
| In the near future, I intend to introduce legislation that would require insurance carriers in the Commonwealth that cover behavioral health, to submit certain information each year to our Department of Insurance. Specifically, this information, comprised of data, would help determine if the insurance carrier is being compliant with the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). This federal Act was enacted in 2008, and viewed as a step forward in ensuring equal coverage of treatment for mental illness and addiction in the same magnitude as they do physical illness. While this has been successful, enforcement of the law has not always resulted in true parity and equivalence of care. The Pennsylvania Department of Insurance enforces this federal law; and does so by responding to complaints filed to their operation regarding parity. Many times, filing a complaint or working through due process is not always possible when an individual is in the midst of a mental health crisis or addiction. Another method the Department utilizes is assessment of compliance through an auditing procedure called a market conduct audit. The goal of my legislation would be to require insurance carriers to submit needed data to the Department so that they may more efficiently and cost-effectively perform their market conduct audits to assure compliance with the federal Act. This bill would not require insurance companies to cover any condition or illness they do not already cover. This is by no means a mandate or extension of coverage. This legislation would be similar to House Bill 1696 (Murt) which was referred to the House Insurance Committee on July 8, 2019. I believe this legislation may help further improve access to treatment of mental illness and addiction, while at the same time provide long-term cost benefits to the insurer. Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation. |