2009 -- S 0357 | |
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LC01399 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
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IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
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JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2009 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO INSURANCE --INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR MENTAL ILLNESS AND | |
SUBSTANCE ABUSE | |
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     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, and Walaska | |
     Date Introduced: February 12, 2009 | |
     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
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     SECTION 1. Section 27-38.2-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-38.2 entitled |
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"Insurance Coverage for Mental Illness and Substance Abuse" is hereby amended to read as |
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follows: |
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     27-38.2-2. Definitions. -- For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and terms |
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have the following meanings: |
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      (1) "Health insurers" means all persons, firms, corporations, or other organizations |
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offering and assuring health services on a prepaid or primarily expense-incurred basis, including |
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but not limited to policies of accident or sickness insurance, as defined by chapter 18 of this title, |
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nonprofit hospital or medical service plans, whether organized under chapter 19 or 20 of this title |
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or under any public law or by special act of the general assembly, health maintenance |
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organizations, or any other entity which insures or reimburses for diagnostic, therapeutic, or |
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preventive services to a determined population on the basis of a periodic premium. Provided, this |
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chapter does not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for: |
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      (i) Hospital confinement indemnity; |
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      (ii) Disability income; |
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      (iii) Accident only; |
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      (iv) Long-term care; |
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      (v) Medicare supplement; |
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      (vi) Limited benefit health; |
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      (vii) Specific disease indemnity; |
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      (viii) Sickness or bodily injury or death by accident or both; and |
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      (ix) Other limited benefit policies. |
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      (2) "Mental illness" means any mental disorder and substance abuse disorder that is |
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listed in the most recent revised publication or the most updated volume of either the Diagnostic |
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and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric |
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Association or the International Classification of Disease Manual (ICO) published by the World |
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Health Organization and that substantially limits the life activities of the person with the illness |
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including eating disorders as so defined therein; provided, that tobacco and caffeine are excluded |
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from the definition of "substance" for the purposes of this chapter. "Mental illness" shall not |
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include: (i) mental retardation, (ii) learning disorders, (iii) motor skills disorders, (iv) |
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communication disorders, and (v) mental disorders classified as "V" codes. Nothing shall |
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preclude persons with these conditions from receiving benefits provided under this chapter for |
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any other diagnoses covered by this chapter. |
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      (3) "Mental illness coverage" means inpatient hospitalization, partial hospitalization |
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provided in a hospital or any other licensed facility, intensive out patient services, outpatient |
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services and community residential care services for substance abuse treatment. It shall not |
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include methadone maintenance services or community residential care services for mental |
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illnesses other than substance abuse disorders. |
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      (4) "Outpatient services" means office visits that provide for the treatment of mental |
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illness and substance abuse. |
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      (5) "Community residential care services" mean those facilities as defined and licensed |
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in accordance with chapter 24 of title 40.1. |
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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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LC01399 | |
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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 expand the definition of mental illness for insurance coverage to include |
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eating disorders. |
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     This act would take effect upon passage. |
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LC01399 | |
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