CHAPTER 323
HB 1493 – FINAL VERSION
03Mar2010… 0270h
05/05/10 1644s
2010 SESSION
01/05
HOUSE BILL 1493
AN ACT establishing a committee to study comprehensive mental health and substance use disorders parity.
SPONSORS: Rep. Merry, Belk 2; Rep. B. Richardson, Ches 5; Rep. Ford, Graf 3; Rep. DeJoie, Merr 11; Rep. Pilliod, Belk 5; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 24; Sen. Gilmour, Dist 12
COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs
This bill establishes a committee to study comprehensive mental health and substance use disorders parity.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03Mar2010… 0270h
05/05/10 1644s
10-2474
01/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Ten
AN ACT establishing a committee to study comprehensive mental health and substance use disorders parity.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
323:1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study comprehensive mental health and substance use disorders parity.
323:2 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
323:3 Duties. The committee shall study comprehensive mental health and substance use disorders parity. The committee shall include in its study the following:
I. A review of other state parity laws and experiences to determine the best comprehensive coverage for New Hampshire.
II. A review of the cost and benefits associated with the possible expansion of mental health and substance use disorders coverage to the citizens of New Hampshire.
III. Whether the law should include all clinical diagnoses as found in the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association.
IV. Whether the law should include self-funded health plans.
V. Whether the law should mandate group health plans to have mental health and substance use disorders coverage.
VI. Whether the law should require companies with more than 25 employees to provide mental health and substance use disorders coverage if they have health plans.
VII. Whether deductibles and copayments should be capped to a certain percent of the cost.
VIII. Any other matter the committee deems relevant to its study.
323:4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
323:5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2010.
323:6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: July 20, 2010
Effective Date: July 20, 2010