Bill > HB1338

This bill mandates that health insurance carriers, including corporations offering subscription contracts and health maintenance organizations (HMOs), must provide coverage for the treatment of acquired brain injury, which is defined as any brain injury occurring after birth from various causes like infections, toxins, stroke, or traumatic injury. The required coverage must include a range of therapies and services such as cognitive rehabilitation therapy (re-learning cognitive skills for daily living), cognitive communication therapy (addressing communication issues stemming from cognitive deficits), neurocognitive therapy (treating cognitive function decline), neuropsychological testing (assessing and treating cognitive, emotional, and behavioral deficits), neurofeedback therapy (training brain function for self-regulation), functional rehabilitation therapy (learning specific tasks through practice), community reintegration services (therapeutic training for participation in daily life and community), post-acute residential treatment services (integrated medical and therapeutic services in a home-like setting), inpatient services, outpatient and day treatment services, and home and community-based treatment. Importantly, this coverage cannot be more restrictive than that provided for any other illness or disorder in terms of deductibles, limits, or copayments, and it applies to policies delivered or renewed in Virginia on or after January 1, 2027, with exceptions for certain limited or specialized policies and those for individuals eligible for Medicare.

Business and Industry

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1338