Bill > S649

This bill aims to improve access, quality, and continuity of care for individuals receiving behavioral health, substance use disorder, and mental health services by allowing healthcare providers in these fields to jointly negotiate with insurance carriers and behavioral health managers, which are entities that manage these types of health benefits. This joint negotiation process, protected by a legal doctrine called the State Action Doctrine, allows providers to collectively discuss and agree on various aspects of care and payment, including reimbursement rates, service descriptions, medical necessity criteria, utilization review, clinical guidelines, and administrative procedures, provided these negotiations are actively supervised by the state. The bill also establishes a Behavioral Health Insurance Contract Review Board to ensure that any jointly negotiated contracts promote quality care, and it prohibits insurance companies from retaliating against providers who engage in or choose not to engage in these joint negotiations, offering legal remedies for violations.