Ohio Mental Health Parity Law Applicable Oct. 1

The Ohio Department of Insurance has created an on-line toolkit at www.ohioinsurance.gov to help consumers and stakeholders understand how health benefit plans are to provide mental health benefits for biologically based mental illness. S.B. 116, effective March 30, 2007, enacted the mental health parity legislation, which became applicable to most health benefit plans on or after Oct. 1, 2007. The Department has been reviewing and approving mental health benefit product filings made by health insuring corporations and insurance companies. The law provides that individual and group health plans, including individual and group healthcare plans offered by Health Insuring Corporations (HICs), and public and private self-funded health benefit plans must provide benefits for the diagnosis and treatment of biologically based mental illnesses. The mandated mental health benefits are subject to the same co-payments, deductibles, cost sharing requirements and managed care as the coverage for physical illnesses. As with traditional health benefit plans, employers and insurers may negotiate reimbursement rates and may establish networks with providers to deliver mental health services to the health plan`s subscribers. Self-funded plans are included in the mandate, unless preempted by the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Biologically based mental illnesses are defined by the law as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, major depressive order, bipolar disorder, paranoia and other psychotic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder. Ohioans who have questions about mental health parity and benefits may call the Department`s consumer hotline at 1-800-686-1526. Additional information can be obtained at www.ohioinsurance.gov.