Before the Joint Committee on Financial
Services
The Massachusetts Medical Society wishes to be recorded in
opposition to House Bill 2078, "An Act Relative to Affordable
Health Insurance."
Although confusing in its intent, it appears that H.2078 would
allow health insurers, including Connector plans, HMO's, and
BSBSMA, and commercial insurers covered under M.G.L. Chapter 175 to
issue policies that limit outpatient mental health coverage
required as a result of the passage of Chapter 256 of the Acts of
2008, the Mental Health Parity Law. This law expanded access
to mental health by eliminating some of the distinction between
coverage for "biologically-based disorders" and "non-biologically
based disorders" formulated in Chapter 80 of the Acts of
2000. Since such disorders are frequently treated on an
outpatient basis, this bill seeks to limit that coverage by
allowing the Commissioner of Insurance to approve plans that cover
outpatient mental health services only up to the level of services
provided for all outpatient physician office services, even if it
falls short of current statutory requirements.
The MMS is strongly supportive of mental health parity and we
urge the Committee to carefully review this legislation and to
reject any language within this or other legislation which would
call into question equal coverage for such services.
The MMS urges the Committee on Financial Services to report
H.2078 out "Ought Not To Pass."
