Us Congress House Bill HB7140

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/30/24
• Refer: 1/30/24
• Refer: 2/2/24

Caption

Mental Health Transparency Act

Impact

If enacted, the Mental Health Transparency Act would significantly alter how health insurance companies must operate when it comes to reporting provider availability. It will require these companies to publish detailed statistics about their networks, including the number and percentage of in-network providers. This move is expected to enhance consumer decision-making by offering better access to information about available services within their plans, which can ultimately influence plan selection and healthcare access.

Summary

House Bill 7140, known as the 'Mental Health Transparency Act,' seeks to increase transparency in group health plans regarding provider participation. The bill mandates that health insurance issuers offering group or individual health coverage disclose the percentage of in-network participation among behavioral health care providers and substance use disorder treatment providers. This is intended to give consumers a clearer understanding of their options within their health insurance networks, especially concerning mental health treatments.

Contention

Discussion around HB 7140 could revolve around the implications of such transparency requirements. While proponents argue this will empower consumers and push health plans to improve the availability of mental health services, opponents may raise concerns about the administrative burden these disclosure requirements impose on health plans. Additionally, the effectiveness of such measures in improving access to care could also be a point of debate, with critics questioning whether simply increasing transparency will lead to tangible improvements in mental health service availability.