Bill > A1833

Introduced Session

This bill requires insurance coverage for expenses incurred in screening adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 for major depressive disorder, so long as screening for major depressive disorder in adolescents continues to receive a rating of "A" or "B" from the United States Preventative Services Task Force. The bill would apply to hospital, medical, and health service corporations; commercial individual, small employer, and larger group insurers; health maintenance organizations; and the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program. The bill provides that the benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other condition under the contract or policy, except that the insurer shall not impose on covered persons receiving these services any form of cost sharing, including, but not limited to, copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance. Depression is associated with higher levels of stress and anxiety and can affect an adolescent's personal, school, work, social, and family life, leading to social isolation and other problems. Early diagnosis is essential to the effective treatment of depression in young people.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Jamel Holley (D)*,  Angelica Jimenez (D)*,  Pam Lampitt (D)*,  Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D)*,  Daniel Benson (D),  Herbert Conaway (D),  JoAnn Downey (D),  Reed Gusciora (D),  Mila Jasey (D),  John McKeon (D),  Angela Mcknight (D),  Pedro Mejia (D),  Gabriela Mosquera (D),  Carol Murphy (D),  Nancy Pinkin (D),  Britnee Timberlake (D),  Anthony Verrelli (D), 

Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee (on 11/18/2019)