Texas Senate Bill SB860

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Caption

Relating to access to and benefits for mental health conditions and substance use disorders.

Impact

The bill is set to significantly change the landscape of mental health and substance abuse treatment in Texas. By ensuring parity between mental health benefits and other medical coverage, SB860 aims to address long-standing issues of unequal treatment faced by individuals seeking mental health services. The establishment of an ombudsman will also enhance consumer protection, providing a direct line for reporting concerns, facilitating resolution, and potentially reducing the number of patients falling through the cracks of the healthcare system.

Summary

SB860 focuses on improving access to mental health care and substance use disorder treatment by establishing requirements for health benefit plans in Texas. The bill mandates that such plans provide benefits for mental health and substance use disorders on par with medical and surgical benefits, eliminating discriminatory treatment limitations. An ombudsman for behavioral health access will be appointed to assist consumers in navigating complaints and resolving access issues related to their care, ensuring that both insured and uninsured individuals have equitable support in obtaining necessary treatments.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment around SB860 leans toward being positive, with many stakeholders expressing support for necessary reforms in mental health care accessibility. However, there are concerns regarding the effective implementation of the bill and whether it will adequately address the barriers to care that persist despite legal requirements. Advocacy groups for mental health and substance use disorders have praised the effort, seeing it as a crucial step in reforming an often neglected area of healthcare.

Contention

Points of contention mainly revolve around the implementation of the ombudsman and the potential administrative burdens it may introduce to health benefit providers. Critics worry about the capacity of the Texas Department of Insurance and other agencies to enforce compliance effectively, as compliance with treatment parity could prove challenging if not accompanied by sufficient funding and resources. Some opponents also voice concerns regarding how these changes will impact insurance premiums and the availability of services in rural areas.