Ohio Statutes

The new law requires Ohio’s Superintendent of Insurance to implement the Federal Parity by:

• Proactively ensuring compliance by health plan issuers;
• Evaluating all consumer and provider complaints regarding mental health and substance use disorder benefits for possible parity violations;
• Effectuating any provisions of the Federal Parity Law that relate to the business of insurance; and
• Enforce, monitor compliance with, and ensure continued compliance these provisions.

Enacted through SB 284

Individual and group sickness and accident insurance policies shall provide coverage for the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Benefits include:

(1) For speech and language therapy or occupational therapy for an insured under the age of fourteen;
(2) For clinical therapeutic intervention for an insured under the age of fourteen; and
(3) For mental or behavioral health outpatient services for an insured under the age of fourteen.

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3923.84 states that such benefits may be limited to those that are preauthorized and ordered by a developmental pediatrician or a psychologist trained in autism.

Enacted through HB 463 (131st General Assembly)

Individual and group health insuring corporation policy, contract, or agreement providing basic health care services shall provide coverage for the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Benefits include:

(1) For speech and language therapy or occupational therapy for an insured under the age of fourteen;
(2) For clinical therapeutic intervention for an insured under the age of fourteen; and
(3) For mental or behavioral health outpatient services for an insured under the age of fourteen.

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 1751.84 states that such benefits may be limited to those that are preauthorized and ordered by a developmental pediatrician or a psychologist trained in autism.

Enacted through HB 463 (131st General Assembly)

A Medicaid managed care organization shall provide cognitive behavioral therapy, provided by a community mental health services provider, to a Medicaid recipient who meets certain qualifications. Medicaid recipients who qualify may receive other related services, as well.
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 5167.16 continues on to discuss the qualification requirements.

Enacted through HB 64 (131st General Assembly)

Among many other things, this bill changed the sections of the state insurance law about parity so that nurse practitioners and marriage and family therapists are accepted providers for reimbursement of behavioral health services.