Legislation Signed into Law

2020

Primary Focus Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity
Title/Description
  • HB 1696: An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in health insurance coverage parity and nondiscrimination, further providing for definitions and for adoption of Federal acts and providing for annual attestation by insurers and for insurer analysis and disclosure information.
  • HB 1439: An Act amending Title 40 (Insurance) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in regulation of insurers and related persons generally, providing for mental health parity and access to addiction treatment.
Citation

HB 1696 – Act 92

HB 1439 – Act 89
Effective Date

Act No. 92 of 2020, Oct. 29, 2020; This act shall take effect immediately.

Act No. 89 of 2020, Oct. 29, 2020; This act shall take effect immediately.

2018

Primary Focus Outpatient Psychiatric Oversight
Title/Description Outpatient Psychiatric Oversight Act
Citation 2018 Act 25
Summary

This Act requires that an outpatient psychiatric clinic shall have a psychiatrist on site for two hours of psychiatric time per week for each full-time equivalent staff member. The Act specifies that fifty percent of the required on-site psychiatric time may be provided by (i) an advanced practice professional or (ii) a psychiatrist off-site using interactive audio and video communication that protects patient confidentiality under Federal and State law in accordance with department-issued guidelines.
Effective Date Enacted May 31, 2018 and to take effect in 60 days.
Notes

Enacted from House Bill 478.

2009-2010

Primary Focus Mandated Benefit: Provider
Title/Description Adoption of Federal Acts
Citation 40 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 908-14
Summary

Insurers shall comply with the Federal acts as contained in sections 2701, 2702, 2705, 2707, 2721, 2753 and 2754 of the Public Health Service Act (58 Stat. 682, 42 U.S.C. § 300gg, 300gg-1, 300gg-5, 300gg-7, 300gg-21, 300gg-53 and 300gg-54).
Effective Date 180 days from March 22, 2010
Notes

Enacted by Pa SB 237.
SB 237
Introduced 2/2009
Sponsor Sen. Corman
Status Signed into Law 3/2010
Summary
This extensive bill, which address many items, has a section that requires insurance plans to comply with the Federal Parity Law . It also set forth penalties for violations:
  1. Suspension or revocation of licensure
  2. Cease and desist order
  3. $5,000 fine for each violation
  4. $10,000 fine for each willful violation (Aggregate fines can’t exceed $500,000 in one year)

2008

Primary Focus Mandated Benefit: Provider
Title/Description Autism Spectrum Disorders Coverage
Citation 40 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 764h
Summary

A health insurance policy or government program covered under this section shall provide to covered individuals or recipients under twenty-one (21) years of age coverage for the diagnostic assessment of autism spectrum disorders and for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders.
Effective Date 7/9/2008
Notes

Amended by HB 1150

National Parity Map

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Common Violations

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Common Violations