Virginia Statutes

Va. Code Ann. § 22.1–207 was amended to require mental health education in public schools. The Board of Education is required to consult with mental health experts and shall review and update the health Standards of Learning for students in the 9th and 10th grades to include mental health. The health instruction will incorporate standards that recognize the dimensions of health including mental health and the relationship of physical and mental health to enhance student understanding, attitudes and behavior to promote dignity, health, and well-being. The second amendment to Va. Code. Ann. § 22.1–207 includes age-appropriate health instruction on the safe use and risk of abuse of prescription drugs.

House Bill 1604 and House Bill 1552 provided for these amendments.

Group and individual health insurance coverage must provide mental health and substance use disorder benefits. Such benefits shall be in parity with the medical and surgical benefits contained in the coverage in accordance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.

Enacted through HB 1747 (2015 Session)

This bill changed the section of the insurance law about autism coverage to what it is currently by raising the age limit for coverage to age 10 and by eliminating language that defined small employer plans as those with 50 or fewer employees.

This bill changed the section of the insurance law about autism coverage to what it is currently by raising the age limit for coverage to age 10 and by eliminating language that defined small employer plans as those with 50 or fewer employees.

Mandates coverage for the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and the treatment of autism spectrum disorder, in individuals (i) from January 1, 2012, until January 1, 2016, from age two years through age six years and (ii) from and after January 1, 2016, from age two years through age 10 years, subject to the annual maximum benefit limitation.

Enacted through H1940 (2015 Session)

This bill changed the parity section of the state insurance law so that large employer fully-insured plans must cover behavioral health services “in accordance” with the Federal Parity Law.