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House Bill 10 |
House Author: Price et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-17 |
Senate Sponsor: Zaffirini et al. |
House Bill 10 amends the Government Code and Insurance Code to require a health benefit plan to provide benefits and coverage for mental health conditions and substance use disorders under the same terms and conditions applicable to the plan's medical and surgical benefits and coverage. The bill prohibits such coverage from imposing certain treatment limitations on benefits for a mental health condition or substance use disorder and requires the commissioner of insurance to enforce compliance with the bill. The bill requires the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to designate an ombudsman for behavioral health access to care, sets out the ombudsman's duties, and requires the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) to appoint a liaison to the ombudsman. The bill requires HHSC to establish and facilitate a mental health condition and substance use disorder parity work group and requires TDI and HHSC to each conduct studies on benefits for medical or surgical expenses and for mental health conditions and substance use disorders.