Substance abuse insurance parity.

WORKING DRAFT
2006
STATE OF
WYOMING
06LSO-0179

SENATE FILE
NO.
SF0054

Substance abuse insurance parity.

Sponsored by:
Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to health insurance; mandating coverage for substance abuse under health insurance policies issued in the state as specified; providing a definition; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of
Wyoming
:

Section 1.

W.S. 26
‑
20
‑
301 is created to read:

ARTICLE 3
INSURANCE FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT

26
‑
2
0
‑
301.

Required provision of individual or group policy or contract.

(a)

All individual or group health insurance policies providing coverage on an expense incurred basis, individual and group service or indemnity type health insurance contracts issued by any insurer, including any nonprofit corporation and individual and group service contracts issued by a health maintenance organization, shall provide coverage for the treatment of substance abuse that is no less extensive than the coverage provided for any other physical illness. Private third party payors shall not eliminate coverage due to the requirements of this section.

(b)

As used in this section, "substance abuse" means a maladaptive use of alcohol or a controlled substance leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by one (1) or more of the following occurring within a twelve (12) month period:

(i)

Recurrent alcohol or controlled substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school or home;

(ii)

Recurrent alcohol or controlled substance use in situations in which such use is physically hazardous;

(iii)

Recurrent alcohol or controlled substance related legal problems;

(iv)

Continued alcohol or controlled substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of the alcohol or controlled substance.

Section 2.

This act shall apply to any individual or group health insurance policy or plan that is delivered, issued, renewed, modified, amended or extended on or after July 1, 2006. The provisions of this act do not supercede or take precedence over federal laws governing health insurance plans.

Section 3.

This act is effective July 1, 2006.

(END)

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SF0054