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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

commissioner by January 1, 2023.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC005791

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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