Please see the following press release related to mental health parity and Autism treatment.
http://www.oregon.gov/DCBS/insurance/news/Pages/2014/nov142014.aspx
INSURANCE DIVISION: INSURERS MUST PAY FOR TREATMENT OF AUTISM, MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS
News Release from Oregon Dept. of Consumer & Business Services
Posted on FlashAlert: November 14th, 2014 2:50 PM
Salem – The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, Insurance Division today issued two bulletins that require insurers to cover treatment of autism and other mental health conditions, just as insurers cover treatment for physical health conditions.
The bulletins take effect retroactively to Aug. 8, 2014, the same day the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon ruled that Providence must pay for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy as a treatment for autism. Many Oregon families seeking autism treatment have had challenges getting coverage for ABA in recent years.
“Recent court decisions have made it clear that ABA should be a covered service when it’s appropriate for the patient,” said Insurance Commissioner Laura Cali. “We expect insurers to stop applying blanket exclusions in their policies and claims practices that effectively deny access to medically necessary treatment for mental health conditions.”
For any health condition, insurers can make coverage decisions based on whether the treatment is deemed medically necessary for an individual patient. The bulletins clarify that insurers’ policies cannot include categorical exclusions that result in broad denials of mental health treatments. And, specifically, they cannot deny treatment for ABA therapy on the basis that it is experimental or investigational.
Consumers can appeal medical necessity denials to the company – and ultimately through the Insurance Division – via an independent review organization.
The Insurance Division has the authority to issue bulletins to clarify requirements of insurance companies under the Oregon Insurance Code and other state and federal laws. The division developed the bulletins through a public process and received feedback from consumers, advocates, insurers, and other interested parties.
Consumers with outstanding claims should contact their insurance company. They also can call the Insurance Division Consumer Advocacy Unit at 1-888-877-4894 (toll-free) or email cp.ins@state.or.us.
You can find the bulletins and more information on the Insurance Division’s website athttp://www.oregon.gov/DCBS/insurance/legal/bulletins/Pages/proposed-bulletin-review.aspx.
The Insurance Division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Visit www.dcbs.oregon.gov andwww.insurance.oregon.gov.
Contact Info:
Lisa Morawski, 503-947-7873
Lisa.m.morawski@state.or.us
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