All individual health policies and contracts except accidental injury, specified disease, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, long-term care and other limited benefit health insurance policies and contracts must provide coverage for the treatment of children's mental health disorders.__The policies and contracts must provide benefits for the treatment and diagnosis of children's mental health disorders under terms and conditions that are no less extensive than the benefits provided for medical treatment for physical illnesses.

Sec. B-3. 24-A MRSA §2847-G is enacted to read:

§2847-G.__Coverage for children's mental health disorders

All group insurance policies and contracts except accidental injury, specified disease, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, long-term care and other limited benefit health insurance policies and contracts must provide coverage for the treatment of children's mental health disorders.__The policies and contracts must provide benefits for the treatment and diagnosis of children's mental health disorders under terms and conditions that are no less extensive than the benefits provided for medical treatment for physical illnesses.

Sec. B-4. 24-A MRSA §4245 is enacted to read:

§4245.__Coverage for children's mental health disorders

All health maintenance organization individual and group health contracts must provide coverage for the treatment of children's mental health disorders.__The contracts must provide benefits for the treatment and diagnosis of children's mental health disorders under terms and conditions that are no less extensive than the benefits provided for medical treatment for physical illnesses.

Sec. B-5. Applicability. This Part applies to all policies and contracts executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed on or after the effective date of this Part. All policies and contracts are deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

SUMMARY

This bill amends the health insurance laws regarding mental health services coverage. Part A of the bill removes the provisions that exempt employers with 20 or fewer employees insured under a group contract or policy from the coverage