Amendment #461 to H3400

Mental Health Parity

Representatives Malia of Boston, McMurtry of Dedham, Linsky of Natick, Khan of Newton, Mark of Peru, Garlick of Needham, Sullivan of Fall River, Balser of Newton, Hunt of Sandwich, Golden of Lowell and Rogers of Cambridge move to amend the bill by inserting after section 103 the following section:

SECTION X. The Division of Insurance and the Office of Medicaid, pursuant to sections 254 and 265 of Chapter 224 of the Acts of 2012, shall implement regulations by July 1, 2013 that will include (1) a process for carriers and the Office of Medicaid’s programs to certify and specifically outline how their plans are compliant with the federal and state mental health parity laws; (2) a requirement that carriers notify consumers of their rights under the federal and state parity laws including their right to file a complaint/grievance with the state alleging noncompliance and the avenues to file such a complaint; and (3) details on how the Division of Insurance and the Office of Medicaid will review consumer complaints and grievances alleging carrier noncompliance with federal and state mental health parity laws, including timelines.