2022 -- H 8157

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LC005791

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR MENTAL ILLNESS AND

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Tanzi, Cortvriend, Kislak, Potter, Giraldo, Felix,
Baginski, McGaw, Messier, and Kazarian

     Date Introduced: April 14, 2022

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 27-38.2 of the General Laws entitled "Insurance Coverage for Mental

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Illness and Substance Abuse" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     27-38.2-6. Reimbursement rate parity for mental health and substance use disorders.

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     (a) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan or policy delivered, issued for

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delivery or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2023, shall increase the rate of reimbursement

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for each in-network outpatient behavioral health care service that is reimbursed below the median

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commercial reimbursement rate by July 1, 2023. Such increase in reimbursement rates shall be in

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an amount sufficient to increase reimbursement rates to the median value.

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     (b) Median commercial insurance reimbursement rates for each in-network outpatient

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behavioral health care service shall be determined by the office of the health insurance

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commissioner by January 1, 2023.

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     (c) Effective January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter through 2028, commercial in-

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network outpatient behavioral health care service reimbursement rates shall increase no less than

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the rate of inflation measured by the change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers,

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Less Food and Energy, plus three (3) percentage points.

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     (d) The change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, Less Food and

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Energy shall be determined by the office of the health insurance commissioner no later than three

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(3) months prior to the beginning of the next calendar year based on analysis of data published by

 

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the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR MENTAL ILLNESS AND

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

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     This act would increase the rate of reimbursement for each in-network outpatient

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behavioral health care service that is reimbursed below the median commercial reimbursement rate

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by July 1, 2023, to the median value, for contracts, plans or policies delivered, issued or renewed

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on or after January 1, 2023. This act would also require that the office of the health insurance

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commissioner establish the median commercial insurance reimbursement rates for each in-network

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outpatient behavioral health care service by January 1, 2023. Additionally, the act would mandate

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an annual increase in the rates for the years 2024 to 2028 no less than the rate of inflation plus three

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(3) percentage points determined three (3) months prior to the beginning of the next calendar year

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based on the Federal Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, Less Food and Energy

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published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005791

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