79R5541 KCR-D

By:  Van de Putte                                                 S.B. No. 1782



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to coverage of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa as 
serious mental illnesses under certain group health benefit plans.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 1355.001(1), Insurance Code, as 
effective April 1, 2005, is amended to read as follows:
		(1)  "Serious mental illness" means the following 
psychiatric illnesses as defined by the American Psychiatric 
Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM):
			(A)  bipolar disorders (hypomanic, manic, 
depressive, and mixed);          
			(B)  depression in childhood and adolescence;                                
			(C)  major depressive disorders (single episode 
or recurrent);             
			(D)  obsessive-compulsive disorders;                                         
			(E)  paranoid and other psychotic disorders;                                 
			(F)  pervasive developmental disorders;                                      
			(G)  schizo-affective disorders (bipolar or 
depressive);  [and]
			(H)  schizophrenia;                                                   
			(I)  anorexia nervosa; and                                            
			(J)  bulimia nervosa.                                                 
	SECTION 2.  (a)  On or before September 1, 2010, the Sunset 
Advisory Commission shall conduct a study to determine:
		(1)  to what extent the health benefit plan coverage 
required by the change in law made by this Act to Section 
1355.001(1), Insurance Code, is being used by enrollees in health 
benefit plans to which Subchapter A, Chapter 1355, Insurance Code, 
applies; and
		(2)  the impact of the required coverage on the cost of 
those health benefit plans.
	(b)  The Sunset Advisory Commission shall report its 
findings under this section to the legislature on or before January 
1, 2011.
	(c)  The Texas Department of Insurance and any other state 
agency shall cooperate with the Sunset Advisory Commission as 
necessary to implement this section.
	SECTION 3.  The change is law made by this Act applies only 
to a group health benefit plan that is delivered, issued for 
delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2006.  A group health 
benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed 
before January 1, 2006, is governed by the law as it existed 
immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is 
continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.