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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to health benefit plan coverage for certain mental |
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disorders. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1355.001(1), Insurance Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(1) "Serious mental illness" means the following |
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psychiatric illnesses as defined by the American Psychiatric |
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Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM): |
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(A) bipolar disorders (hypomanic, manic, |
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depressive, and mixed); |
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(B) depression in childhood and adolescence; |
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(C) major depressive disorders (single episode |
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or recurrent); |
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(D) obsessive-compulsive disorders; |
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(E) paranoid and other psychotic disorders; |
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(F) pervasive developmental disorders; |
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(G) schizo-affective disorders (bipolar or |
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depressive); [and] |
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(H) schizophrenia; and |
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(I) anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1355.007, Insurance Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 1355.007. SMALL EMPLOYER COVERAGE. (a) An issuer of a |
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group health benefit plan to a small employer must offer the |
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coverage described by Section 1355.004 to the employer but is not |
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required to provide the coverage if the employer rejects the |
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coverage. |
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(b) Regardless of whether a small employer accepts the |
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coverage required by Subsection (a), an issuer of a group health |
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benefit plan to a small employer must provide the coverage required |
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by Section 1355.004 for persons under the age of 19 years for the |
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following psychiatric illnesses as defined by the American |
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Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual |
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(DSM): |
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(1) depression in childhood and adolescence; and |
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(2) anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. |
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SECTION 3. (a) On or before September 1, 2012, the Sunset |
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Advisory Commission shall conduct a study to determine: |
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(1) to what extent the health benefit plan coverage |
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required by the change in law made by this Act to Chapter 1355, |
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Insurance Code, is being used by enrollees in health benefit plans |
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to which those articles apply; and |
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(2) the impact of the required coverage on the cost of |
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those health benefit plans. |
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(b) The Sunset Advisory Commission shall report its |
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findings under this section to the legislature on or before January |
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1, 2013. |
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(c) The Texas Department of Insurance and any other state |
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agency shall cooperate with the Sunset Advisory Commission as |
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necessary to implement this section. |
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SECTION 4. This Act applies only to a health benefit plan |
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delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, |
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2008. A health benefit plan delivered, issued for delivery, or |
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renewed before January 1, 2008, is governed by the law as it existed |
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immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |