Bill > SB131

This bill establishes a new Parity Compliance Review Panel within the existing Behavioral Health Coordinating Council to address mental health insurance coverage disparities. The panel will be composed of state commissioners and appointed mental health professionals who will receive and evaluate reports from health care providers about potential violations of mental health parity laws. These laws require health insurers to provide mental health and substance use disorder benefits that are comparable to medical and surgical benefits. The panel will have the authority to request additional information from insurers, create educational materials about mental health rights, and recommend punitive actions to the Insurance Commissioner or Department of Community Health when violations are identified. The bill also adds the Insurance Commissioner to the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council's membership, expanding the council's representation. The panel's primary goal is to ensure that health insurers and state health care entities are providing equitable mental health coverage, with a focus on making the reporting process simple and accessible for health care providers while creating resources to help consumers understand their rights.

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https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70090