(1) The contracts must provide benefits for the treatment and diagnosis of mental illnesses under terms and conditions that are no less extensive than the benefits provided for medical treatment for physical illnesses.

(2) At the request of a nonprofit hospital or medical service organization, a provider of medical treatment for mental illness shall furnish data substantiating that initial or continued treatment is medically necessary and appropriate. When making the determination of whether treatment is medically necessary and appropriate, the provider shall use the same criteria for medical treatment for mental illness as for medical treatment for physical illness under the group contract.

This subsection does not apply to policies, contracts and certificates covering employees of employers with 20 or fewer employees, whether the group policy is issued to the employer, to an association, to a multiple-employer trust or to another entity.

This subsection may not be construed to allow coverage and benefits for the treatment of alcoholism or other drug dependencies through the diagnosis of a mental illness listed in paragraph A.

Sec. A-3. 24 MRSA §2325-A, sub-§5-D, ķA, as amended by PL 1995, c. 637, §2, is further amended to read:

A. All individual and group contracts must make available coverage providing, at a minimum, benefits according to paragraph B, subparagraph (1) for a person receiving medical treatment for any of the following mental illnesses diagnosed by a licensed allopathic or osteopathic physician or a licensed psychologist who is trained and has received a doctorate in psychology specializing in the evaluation and treatment of human behavior:

(1) Schizophrenia;

(2) Bipolar disorder;

(3) Pervasive developmental disorder, or autism;

(4) Paranoia;

(5) Panic disorder;