Georgia House Bill HB184

Georgia 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/1/23

Caption

Insurance; mental health parity requirements; include a specific federal regulation

Impact

The passage of HB 184 would enforce stricter compliance by state health care entities concerning mental health parity. Insurers would be required to extend coverage equally to mental health and substance use disorder treatments as they do for other physical illnesses. The bill mandates annual reporting to the Commissioner of Community Health to assess compliance and viability of these practices, which could enhance access to mental health services for children, adolescents, and adults across the state.

Summary

House Bill 184 aims to amend Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, specifically addressing insurance coverage for mental health and substance use disorders. The bill incorporates federal requirements from the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 to ensure that health insurers provide adequate and comparable coverage for mental health services. This includes stipulations on how insurers must treat mental health claims in relation to physical health claims, ensuring no discriminatory practices against mental health treatments.

Contention

While proponents of HB 184 argue that it will improve mental health care access and equity, concerns have been raised regarding the practice of insurers and their compliance with these new standards. Opponents suggest that the bill may impose additional regulatory burdens on insurers, which could be met with resistance. Furthermore, the requirement for insurers to submit detailed analytical reports could raise questions about privacy and the administrative capacity of smaller health care providers.