(7) Major depressive disorder.

B. All group policies, contracts and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State on or after July 1, 1996 must make available coverage providing benefits that meet the requirements of this paragraph. For purposes of this paragraph, all contracts are deemed renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.

(1) The offer of coverage must provide benefits for the treatment and diagnosis of mental illnesses under terms and conditions that are no less extensive than the benefits provided for medical treatment for physical illnesses.

(2) At the request of a reimbursing insurer, a provider of medical or psychiatric treatment for mental illness shall furnish data substantiating that initial or continued treatment is medically or psychiatrically necessary and appropriate. When making the determination of whether treatment is medically or psychiatrically necessary and appropriate, the provider shall use the same criteria for medical or psychiatric treatment for mental illness as for medical treatment for physical illness under the group contract.

This subsection may not be construed to allow coverage and benefits for the treatment of alcoholism and other drug dependencies through the diagnosis of a mental illness listed in paragraph A.

Sec. 16. 24-A MRSA §4234-A, sub-§3, ķA-1 is enacted to read:

A-1.__"Home support services" means rehabilitative services, treatment services and living skills services provided for a person with a mental illness.__"Home support services" may be provided in a community setting or the person's current place of residence, and are services that promote the integration of the person into the community, sustain the person in the person's current living situation or another living situation of that person's choosing and enhance the person's quality of life. "Home support services" may be provided directly to the person or indirectly through collateral contact or by telephone contact or other means on behalf of the person.__ "Home support services" includes, but is not limited to: