Resolve, Regarding Insurance Coverage for Alternative Therapies for Addiction and Recovery

Preamble. Whereas,  Maine citizens are experiencing an addiction crisis related to opioid and heroin use; and

Whereas,  addiction treatment services are essential components to successful recovery; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Superintendent of Insurance to evaluate insurance coverage for alternative therapies for addiction treatment and recovery. Resolved: That the Superintendent of Insurance shall convene representatives of organizations that provide addiction treatment, medical professionals and health insurers to identify best practices for evidence-based alternative therapy for the treatment of opioid and heroin addiction and successful recovery. The superintendent shall evaluate health insurance plans offered in the State to identify gaps in coverage for recommended evidence-based alternative therapies and, before January 15, 2018, report to the Joint Standing Committee on Insurance and Financial Services. The report must also include information on the impact of benefit design requirements of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended, on alternative therapies and any federal changes or potential federal changes that may affect benefit design requirements. The joint standing committee may submit a bill based on the superintendent's findings and recommendations to the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature.

summary

This resolve requires the Superintendent of Insurance to convene interested parties to evaluate commercial insurance coverage for addiction treatment and recovery alternative therapies and report findings and recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Insurance and Financial Services before January 15, 2018. The resolve authorizes the Joint Standing Committee on Insurance and Financial Services to submit a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature based upon the report.