26RS HB 279

House Bill 279

Actions

Last Action	01/08/26: to Committee on Committees (H)
Title	AN ACT relating to coverage for mental health or substance use disorders.
Bill Documents	Introduced
Fiscal Impact Statements	Actuarial Analysis Health Mandate Local Mandate State Employee Health Plan Impact
Bill Request Number	74
Sponsors	V. Grossl, L. Willner
Summary of Original Version	Amend KRS 304.17A-660 to specify classifications to be included in the term "classification of benefits"; specify requirements, standards, and methodologies to be included in the term "nonquantitative treatment limitation"; change the definition of "mental health condition" to the definition of "mental health or substance use disorder condition"; amend KRS 304.17A-661 to require an insurer's mental health parity analysis to include an evaluation of standards relating to network composition, out-of-network utilization rates, and medical management techniques; require insurers to submit a remediation plan for the commissioner's approval if its mental health parity analysis indicates noncompliance; require insurer's annual mental health parity report to be submitted to the Legislative Research Commission; delete language applying remedies under Subtitle 12 of KRS Chapter 304 to violations; authorize the Attorney General to enforce the mental health parity law; establish duties, remedies, and penalties for enforcement by the Attorney General; authorize a private cause of action by any person directly injured by a violation or likely violation of the mental health parity law; establish duties, remedies, and penalties for a private right of action under the mental health parity law; establish construction clauses; authorize the Attorney General to promulgate administrative regulations for proper enforcement of mental health parity law; create new sections of KRS 304.17A-660 to 304.17A-669 to define "health care professional"; require insurers to comply with KRS 304.17A-700 to 304.17A-730 for claims submitted by health care professionals for the diagnosis or treatment of mental health or substance use disorder conditions; authorize the Attorney General to enforce the requirement to comply with KRS 304.17A-700 to 304.17A-730; create the Advisory Council on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity; establish duties and membership; amend KRS 304.17A-665 to require the commissioner of insurance to publish a summary of each insurer's mental health parity report and report findings to specified legislative committees; amend KRS 304.17A-669 to conform; amend KRS 18A.225 to require the state employee health plan to comply with KRS 304.17A-660 to 304.17A-669; provide terms for initial appointment of members of the Advisory Council on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity; provide that certain sections apply to contracts issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027; EFFECTIVE, January 1, 2027.
Index Headings of Original Version	Administrative Regulations And Proceedings - Attorney General, mental health and substance use disorder parity, enforcement Advisory Boards, Commissions, And Committees - Advisory Council on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity, creation Attorney General - Mental health and substance use disorder parity, enforcement Civil Actions - Mental health and substance use disorder parity, enforcement Effective Dates, Delayed - Mental health and substance use disorder parity, January 1, 2027 Health And Medical Services - Mental health and substance use disorder parity, insurance, requirements Insurance, Health - Mental health and substance use disorder parity, requirements Mental Health - Mental health and substance use disorder parity, insurance, requirements Reports Mandated - Mental health and substance use disorder, annual reports, insurers State Agencies - Department of Insurance, mental health and substance use disorder parity, requirements State Employees - Health plan, mental health and substance use disorder parity Substance Use - Mental health and substance use disorder parity, insurance, requirements Actuarial Analysis - Attorney General, mental health and substance use disorder parity, enforcement Health Benefit Plan Mandate - Health plan, mental health and substance use disorder parity, insurance, requirements Local Mandate - Mental health and substance use disorder parity, insurance, requirements State Employee Health Plan Mandate - Health plan, mental health and substance use disorder parity, insurance, requirements