California Assembly Bill AB171 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 171AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JANUARY 23, 2012 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 3, 2011 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 6, 2011 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Beall (Coauthors: Assembly Members Ammiano, Blumenfield, Brownley, Carter, Chesbro, Eng, Huffman, Mitchell, Swanson, Wieckowski, Williams, and Yamada) JANUARY 20, 2011 An act to add Section  1374.73   1374.745  to the Health and Safety Code, and to add Section  10144.51   10144.53  to the Insurance Code, relating to health care coverage. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 171, as amended, Beall.  Autism spectrum disorder.   Pervasive developmental disorder or autism.  (1) Existing law provides for licensing and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care. A willful violation of these provisions is a crime. Existing law provides for  licensing and   the  regulation of health insurers by the Insurance Commissioner. Existing law requires health care service plan contracts and health insurance policies to provide  benefits for specified conditions, including certain mental health conditions.   coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of severe mental illnesses, including pervasive developmental disorder or autism, under the   same terms and conditions applied to other medical conditions, as specified. Commencing July 1, 20   12, and until July 1, 2014, existing law requires health care service plan contracts and health insurance policies to provide coverage for behavioral health treatment, as defined, for pervasive developmental disorder or autism.  This bill would require health care service plan contracts and health insurance policies to provide coverage for the screening, diagnosis, and treatment , other than behavioral health treatment,  of  autism spectrum disorders   pervasive developmental disorder or autism  . The bill would, however, provide that no benefits are required to be provided  by a health benefit plan offered through the California Health Benefit Exchange that exceed the essential health benefits required   that exceed the essential health benefits that will be required  under  specified  federal law. The bill would prohibit  coverage from being denied for specified reasons   health care service plans and health insurers from denying, terminating, or refusing to renew coverage solely because the individual is diagnosed with or has received treatment for pervasive developmental disorder or autism  . Because the bill would change the definition of a crime with respect to health care service plans, it would thereby impose a state-mandated local program. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section  1374.73   1374.745  is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:  1374.73.   1374.745.  (a) Every health care service plan contract issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1,  2012   2013  , that provides hospital, medical, or surgical coverage shall provide coverage for the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of  autism spectrum disorders.   pervasive developmental disorder or autism.  (b) A health care service plan shall not terminate coverage, or refuse to deliver, execute, issue, amend, adjust, or renew coverage, to an enrollee solely because the individual is diagnosed with, or has received treatment for,  an autism spectrum disorder   pervasive developmental disorder or autism  . (c) Coverage required to be provided under this section shall extend to all medically necessary services and shall not be subject to any limits regarding age, number of visits, or dollar amounts. Coverage required to be provided under this section shall not be subject to provisions relating to lifetime maximums, deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance or other terms and conditions that are less favorable to an enrollee than lifetime maximums, deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance or other terms and conditions that apply to physical illness generally under the plan contract. (d) Coverage required to be provided under this section is a health care service and a covered health care benefit for purposes of this chapter. Coverage shall not be denied  on the basis of the location of delivery of the treat   ment or  on the basis that the treatment is habilitative, nonrestorative, educational, academic, or custodial in nature. (e) A health care service plan may request, no more than once annually, a review of treatment provided to an enrollee for autism spectrum disorders   pervasive developmental disorder or autism . The cost of obtaining the review shall be borne by the plan. This subdivision does not apply to inpatient services. (f) A health care service plan shall establish and maintain an adequate network of  qualified autism  service providers with appropriate training and experience in  autism spectrum disorders   pervasive developmental disorder or autism  to ensure that enrollees have a choice of providers, and have timely access, continuity of care, and ready referral to all services required to be provided by this section consistent with Sections 1367 and 1367.03 and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto. (g) (1) This section shall not be construed as reducing any obligation to provide services to an enrollee under an individualized family service plan, an individualized program plan, a prevention program plan, an individualized education program, or an individualized service plan. (2) This section shall not be construed as limiting  or excluding  benefits that are otherwise available to an enrollee under a health care service  plan.   plan, including, but not limited to, benefits that are required to be covered pursuant to Sections 1374.72 and 1374.73.   (3) This section shall not be construed to mean that the services required to be covered pursuant to this section are not required to be covered under other provisions of this chapter.   (3)   (4)  This section shall not be construed as affecting litigation that is pending on January 1, 2012.  (h) On and after January 1, 2014, to the extent that this section requires health benefits to be provided that exceed the essential health benefits required to be provided under Section 1302(b) of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152) by qualified health plans offering those benefits in the California Health Benefit Exchange pursuant to Title 22 (commencing with Section 100500) of the Government Code, the specific benefits that exceed the federally required essential health benefits are not required to be provided when offered by a health care service plan contract through the Exchange. However, those specific benefits are required to be provided if offered by a health care service plan contract outside of the Exchange.   (h) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), on and after January 1, 2014, this section does not require any benefits to be provided that exceed the essential health benefits that all health plans will be required by federal regulations to provide under Section 1302(b) of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152).  (i) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:  (1) "Autism spectrum disorder" means a neurobiological condition that includes autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder, Rett's disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified.  (2) "Behavioral health treatment" means professional services and treatment programs, including behavioral intervention therapy, applied behavioral analysis, and other intensive behavioral programs, that have demonstrated efficacy to develop, maintain, or restore, to the maximum extent practicable, the functioning or quality of life of an individual and that have been demonstrated to treat the core symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorder.   (3) "Behavioral intervention therapy" means the design, implementation, and evaluation of environmental modifications, using behavioral stimuli and consequences, to produce socially significant improvement in behaviors, including the use of direct observation, measurement, and functional analyses of the relationship between environment and behavior.   (4)   (1)  "Diagnosis of  autism spectrum disorders"   pervasive developmental disorder or autism"  means medically necessary assessment, evaluations, or tests to diagnose whether an individual has  one of the autism spectrum disorders   pervasive developmental disorder or autism  .  (5) "Evidence-based research" means research that applies rigorous, systematic, and objective procedures to obtain valid knowledge relevant to autism spectrum disorders.   (2) "Pervasive developmental disorder or autism" shall have the same meaning and interpretation as used in Section 1374.72.   (6)   (3)  "Pharmacy care" means medications prescribed by a licensed physician and surgeon or other appropriately licensed or certified provider and any health-related services deemed medically necessary to determine the need or effectiveness of the medications.  (7)   (4)  "Psychiatric care" means direct or consultative psychiatric services provided by a psychiatrist  or any other appropriately licensed or certified provider   licensed in the state in which he or she practices  .  (8)   (5)  "Psychological care" means direct or consultative psychological services provided by a psychologist  or any other appropriately licensed or certified provider   licensed in the state in which he or she practices  .  (9) "Qualified autism service provider" shall include any nationally or state licensed or certified person, entity, or group that designs, supervises, or provides treatment of autism spectrum disorders and the unlicensed personnel supervised by the licensed or certified person, entity, or group, provided the services are within the experience and scope of practice of the licensed or certified person, entity, or group. "Qualified autism service provider" shall also include any service provider that is vendorized by a regional center to provide those same services for autism spectrum disorders under Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 4500) of the Welfare and Institutions Code or Title 14 (commencing with Section 95000) of the Government Code and the unlicensed personnel supervised by that provider, or a State Department of Education nonpublic, nonsectarian agency as defined in Section 56035 of the Education Code approved to provide those same services for autism spectrum disorders and the unlicensed personnel supervised by that agency. A qualified autism service provider shall ensure criminal background screening and fingerprinting, and adequate training and supervision of all personnel utilized to implement services. Any national license or certification recognized by this section shall be accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).   (10)   (6)  "Therapeutic care" means services provided by  a  licensed or certified speech  therapists   therapist  ,  an  occupational  therapists   therapist  , or  a  physical  therapists or any other appropriately licensed or certified provider.   therapist.   (11)   (7)  "Treatment for  autism spectrum disorders"     pervasive developmental disorder or autism   "  means all of the following care, including necessary equipment,  that develops, maintains, or restores to the maximum extent practicable the functioning or quality of life of an individual with pervasive developmental disorder or autism and is  prescribed or ordered for an individual diagnosed with  one of the autism spectrum disorders   pervasive developmental disorder or autism  by a licensed physician and surgeon or a licensed psychologist  or any other appropriately licensed or certified provider  who determines the care to be medically necessary:  (A) Behavioral health treatment.   (B)   (A)  Pharmacy care  , if the plan contract includes coverage for prescription drugs  .  (C)   (B)  Psychiatric care.  (D)   (C)  Psychological care.  (E)   (D)  Therapeutic care.  (F) Any care for individuals with autism spectrum disorders that is demonstrated, based upon best practices or evidence-based research, to be medically necessary.   (8) "Treatment for pervasive developmental disorder or autism" does not include behavioral health treatment, as defined in Section 1374.73.  (j) This section, with the exception of subdivision (b), shall not apply to dental-only or vision-only health care service plan contracts. SEC. 2. Section  10144.51   10144.53  is added to the Insurance Code, to read:  10144.51.   10144.53.  (a) Every health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1,  2012,   2013,  that provides hospital, medical, or surgical coverage shall provide coverage for the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of  autism spectrum disorders   pervasive developmental disorder or autism  . (b) A health insurer shall not terminate coverage, or refuse to deliver, execute, issue, amend, adjust, or renew coverage, to an insured solely because the individual is diagnosed with, or has received treatment for,  an autism spectrum disorder   pervasive developmental disorder or autism  . (c) Coverage required to be provided under this section shall extend to all medically necessary services and shall not be subject to any limits regarding age, number of visits, or dollar amounts. Coverage required to be provided under this section shall not be subject to provisions relating to lifetime maximums, deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance or other terms and conditions that are less favorable to an insured than lifetime maximums, deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance or other terms and conditions that apply to physical illness generally under the policy. (d) Coverage required to be provided under this section is a health care service and a covered health care benefit for purposes of this part. Coverage shall not be denied  on the basis of the location of delivery of the treatment or  on the basis that the treatment is habilitative, nonrestorative, educational, academic, or custodial in nature. (e) A health insurer may request, no more than once annually, a review of treatment provided to an insured for  autism spectrum disorders   pervasive developmental disorder or autism  . The cost of obtaining the review shall be borne by the insurer. This subdivision does not apply to inpatient services. (f) A health insurer shall establish and maintain an adequate network of  qualified autism  service providers with appropriate training and experience in  autism spectrum disorders   pervasive developmental disorder or   autism  to ensure that insureds have a choice of providers, and have timely access, continuity of care, and ready referral to all services required to be provided by this section consistent with Sections 10133.5 and 10133.55 and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto. (g) (1) This section shall not be construed as reducing any obligation to provide services to an insured under an individualized family service plan, an individualized program plan, a prevention program plan, an individualized education program, or an individualized service plan. (2) This section shall not be construed as limiting  or excluding  benefits that are otherwise available to an enrollee under a health insurance policy  , including, but not limited to, benefits that are required to be covered under Sections 10144.5 and 10144.51  .  (3) This section shall not be construed to mean that the services required to be covered pursuant to this section are not required to be covered under other provisions of this chapter.   (3)   (4)  This section shall not be construed as affecting litigation that is pending on January 1, 2012.  (h) On and after January 1, 2014, to the extent that this section requires health benefits to be provided that exceed the essential health benefits required to be provided under Section 1302(b) of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152) by qualified health plans offering those benefits in the California Health Benefit Exchange pursuant to Title 22 (commencing with Section 100500) of the Government Code, the specific benefits that exceed the federally required essential health benefits are not required to be provided when offered by a health insurance policy through the Exchange. However, those specific benefits are required to be provided if offered by a health insurance policy outside of the Exchange.   (h) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), on and after January 1, 2014, this section does not require any benefits to be provided that exceed the essential health benefits that all health plans will be required by federal regulations to provide under Section 1302(b) of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152).  (i) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:  (1) "Autism spectrum disorder" means a neurobiological condition that includes autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder, Rett's disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified.   (2) "Behavioral health treatment" means professional services and treatment programs, including behavioral intervention therapy, applied behavioral analysis, and other intensive behavioral programs, that have demonstrated efficacy to develop, maintain, or restore, to the maximum extent practicable, the functioning or quality of life of an individual and that have been demonstrated to treat the core symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorder.  (3) "Behavioral intervention therapy" means the design, implementation, and evaluation of environmental modifications, using behavioral stimuli and consequences, to produce socially significant improvement in behaviors, including the use of direct observation, measurement, and functional analyses of the relationship between environment and behavior.  (4)   (1)  "Diagnosis of  autism spectrum disorders"   pervasive developmental disorder or autism"  means medically necessary assessment, evaluations, or tests to diagnose whether an individual has  one of the autism spectrum disorders   pervasive developmental disorder or autism  .  (5) "Evidence-based research" means research that applies rigorous, systematic, and objective procedures to obtain valid knowledge relevant to autism spectrum disorders.   (2) "Pervasive developmental disorder or autism" shall have the same meaning and interpretation as used in Section 1374.72.   (6)   (3)  "Pharmacy care" means medications prescribed by a licensed physician and surgeon or other appropriately licensed or certified provider and any health-related services deemed medically necessary to determine the need or effectiveness of the medications.  (7)   (4)  "Psychiatric care" means direct or consultative psychiatric services provided by a psychiatrist  or any other appropriately licensed or certified provider   licensed in the state in which he or she practices  .  (8)   (5)  "Psychological care" means direct or consultative psychological services provided by a psychologist  or any other appropriately licensed or certified provider   licensed in the state in which he or she practices  .  (9) "Qualified autism service provider" shall include any nationally or state licensed or certified person, entity, or group that designs, supervises, or provides treatment of autism spectrum disorders and the unlicensed personnel supervised by the licensed or certified person, entity, or group, provided the services are within the experience and scope of practice of the licensed or certified person, entity, or group. "Qualified autism service provider" shall also include any service provider that is vendorized by a regional center to provide those same services for autism spectrum disorders under Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 4500) of the Welfare and Institutions Code or Title 14 (commencing with Section 95000) of the Government Code and the unlicensed personnel supervised by that provider, or a State Department of Education nonpublic, nonsectarian agency as defined in Section 56035 of the Education Code approved to provide those same services for autism spectrum disorders and the unlicensed personnel supervised by that agency. A qualified autism service provider shall ensure criminal background screening and fingerprinting, and adequate training and supervision of all personnel utilized to implement services. Any national license or certification recognized by this section shall be accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).   (10)   (6)  "Therapeutic care" means services provided by  a  licensed or certified speech  therapists   therapist  ,  an  occupational  therapists   therapist  , or  a  physical  therapists or any other appropriately licensed or certified provider   therapist  .  (11)   (7)  "Treatment for  autism spectrum disorders"   pervasive developmental disorder or autism"  means all of the following care, including necessary equipment,  that develops, maintains, or restores to the maximum extent practicable the functioning or quality of l   ife of an individual with pervasive developmental disorder or autism and is  prescribed or ordered for an individual diagnosed with  one of the autism spectrum disorders   pervasive developmental disorder or autism  by a licensed physician and surgeon or a licensed psychologist  or any other appropriately licensed or certified provider  who determines the care to be medically necessary:  (A) Behavioral health treatment.   (B)   (A)  Pharmacy care  , if the policy includes coverage for prescription drugs  .  (C)   (B)  Psychiatric care.  (D)   (C)  Psychological care.  (E)   (D)  Therapeutic care.  (F) Any care for individuals with autism spectrum disorders that is demonstrated, based upon best practices or evidence-based research, to be medically necessary.   (8) "Treatment for pervasive developmental disorder or autism" does not include behavioral health treatment, as defined in Section 10144.51.  (j) This section, with the exception of subdivision (b), shall not apply to dental-only or vision-only health insurance policies. SEC. 3. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.