HB 339 AN ACT relating to coverage of mental health and substance use disorders

About HB-339

Amend KRS 304.17A-600 to define terms; create a new section of KRS 304.17A-660 to 304.17A-665 to define terms; require certain health plans to provide coverage for medically necessary treatment of mental health and substance use disorder; establish requirements relating to mental health and substance use disorder benefits and utilization review; amend KRS 304.17A-661 to require the commissioner of insurance to enforce the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act; make conforming amendments; amend KRS 304.17A-665 to require the commissioner of insurance to provide and publish a report on mental health parity; create new sections of KRS 304.17A-660 to 304.17A-665 to establish requirements for certain health plans with respect to prescriptions drugs for the treatment of substance use disorder; require mental health and substance use disorder benefits to be classified as emergency benefits when provided by mental health and substance use disorder emergency practitioners; require certain health plans to provide coverage for an annual comprehensive mental health wellness examination provided by a mental health professional in accordance with nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines; establish requirements for the mental health wellness examination coverage; create a new section of Subtitle 99 of KRS Chapter 304 to establish penalties; amend KRS 304.17A-265 to conform; amend KRS 164.2871, 205.522, 205.6485, and 18A.225 to require self-insured employer group health plans provided by the governing board of a state postsecondary education institution, Medicaid, the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program, and the state employee health plan to comply with certain sections; make technical amendments; repeal KRS 304.17A-669; direct that provisions apply to health plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026; require the Department of Insurance to seek a waiver of cost defrayal requirements, if applicable; require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to seek federal approval if they determine that such approval is necessary; EFFECTIVE, in part, January 1, 2026.