General Assembly Committee Bill No. 6887 January Session, 2017 LCO No. 4855 *04855HB06887INS* Referred to Committee on INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE Introduced by: (INS) General Assembly Committee Bill No. 6887 January Session, 2017 LCO No. 4855 *04855HB06887INS* Referred to Committee on INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE Introduced by: (INS) AN ACT CONCERNING COVERAGE FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES PROVIDED BY CERTIFIED PEER COUNSELORS. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: Section 1. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2018) (a) For the purposes of this section: (1) "Certified peer counselor" means an individual certified by the Insurance Commissioner to provide peer support services; and (2) "peer support services" means such nonmedical mental health care services and substance abuse services, as designated by the commissioner, that a certified peer counselor may provide to a person insured under a policy of the type specified in subsection (b) of this section. (b) Each individual health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 of the general statutes delivered, issued for delivery, amended, renewed or continued in this state shall provide coverage for peer support services provided by a certified peer counselor. (c) The Insurance Commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54 of the general statutes, to implement the purposes of this section, including, but not limited to, regulations concerning the: (1) Education and certification of certified peer counselors; (2) peer support services a certified peer counselor may provide; (3) peer support services eligible for reimbursement under subsection (b) of this section; and (4) method and amount of such reimbursement. Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2018) (a) For the purposes of this section: (1) "Certified peer counselor" means an individual certified by the Insurance Commissioner to provide peer support services; and (2) "peer support services" means such nonmedical mental health care services and substance abuse services, as designated by the commissioner, that a certified peer counselor may provide to a person insured under a policy of the type specified in subsection (b) of this section. (b) Each group health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 of the general statutes delivered, issued for delivery, amended, renewed or continued in this state shall provide coverage for peer support services provided by a certified peer counselor. (c) The Insurance Commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54 of the general statutes, to implement the purposes of this section, including, but not limited to, regulations concerning the: (1) Education and certification of certified peer counselors; (2) peer support services a certified peer counselor may provide; (3) peer support services eligible for reimbursement under subsection (b) of this section; and (4) method and amount of such reimbursement. This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: Section 1 January 1, 2018 New section Sec. 2 January 1, 2018 New section This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: Section 1 January 1, 2018 New section Sec. 2 January 1, 2018 New section Statement of Purpose: To require that certain health insurance policies cover nonmedical mental health care and substance abuse services provided by certified peer counselors. [Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] Co-Sponsors: REP. MCCARTHY VAHEY, 133rd Dist. Co-Sponsors: REP. MCCARTHY VAHEY, 133rd Dist. H.B. 6887