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Alaska2026Passed Legislature

SB45

Medicaid Mental Health Parity

Last scannedSep 22, 2026, 12:32 AM

In one sentence

This bill requires Alaska's Medicaid program to follow federal rules ensuring mental health and substance use disorder benefits are treated equally with medical and surgical benefits.

What it does

  • Requires the Department of Health to comply with specific federal laws regarding parity in mental health and substance use disorder coverage.
  • Mandates that the department evaluate complaints from patients and providers about possible violations of these equal treatment rules.
  • Orders examinations of non-numeric restrictions, such as prior authorization, step therapy plans, network admission standards, reimbursement rates, and geographic limits.
  • Requires a comparison of how medical necessity criteria are designed and applied to mental health versus physical health benefits.
  • Directs the submission of an annual report by March 1 detailing compliance processes, findings, and whether rules were applied more strictly to mental health care.

Who it affects

  • The Alaska Department of Health
  • Providers who treat patients in the state Medicaid program
  • Patients enrolled in the state medical assistance (Medicaid) program

Limits and unknowns

  • This law only takes effect if the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services approves changes to Alaska's state plan.
  • Approval from federal officials must happen on or before December 31, 2025, for this bill to become active.

Plain language

Terms to know

Parity
Treating mental health and substance use disorder benefits equally to physical health benefits.
Nonquantitative treatment limitations
Rules that limit care without using numbers, such as requiring prior approval or limiting which doctors are in the network.
Medical necessity criteria
The standards used to decide if a specific medical service is needed and should be covered by insurance.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text
Read the official summary

MEDICAID MENTAL HEALTH PARITY An Act relating to medical assistance services; relating to parity in mental health and substance use disorder coverage in the state medical assistance program; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (S) REFERRED TO FINANCE1149
  2. (S) FN1: (DOH)1149
  3. (S) NR: HUGHES1149
  4. (S) DP: DUNBAR, CLAMAN, TOBIN, GIESSEL1149
  5. (S) HSS RPT 4DP 1NR1149
  6. (S) Minutes (SHSS)Min
  7. (S) Moved SB 45 Out of CommitteeText
  8. (S) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205Text
  9. (S) Minutes (SHSS)Min
  10. (S) Heard & HeldText
  11. (S) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205Text
  12. (S) Minutes (SHSS)Min
  13. (S) Heard & HeldText
  14. (S) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205Text
  15. (S) Minutes (SHSS)Min
  16. (S) Scheduled but Not HeardText
  17. (S) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205Text
  18. (S) Minutes (SHSS)Min
  19. (S) <Bill Hearing Canceled> -- Agenda Change --Text
  20. (S) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205Text