Bill Text: NJ A4498 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires health benefits coverage for juvenile depression screenings.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-10-02 - Reviewed by the Pension and Health Benefits Commission Recommend not to enact [A4498 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A4498-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Requires health benefits coverage for juvenile depression screenings.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning health benefits coverage for juvenile depression screenings and supplementing various parts of the statutory law.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. A hospital service corporation contract that provides hospital and medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1938, c.366 (C.17:48-1 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening patients who are under 18 years of age for depression, which coverage shall include, but is not limited to, a depression screening performed by a pediatrician using a nationally-recognized depression screening tool.
The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other condition under the contract.
This section shall apply to those hospital service corporation contracts in which the hospital service corporation has reserved the right to change the premium.
2. A medical service corporation contract that provides hospital and medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1940, c.74 (C.17:48A-1 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening patients who are under 18 years of age for depression, which coverage shall include, but is not limited to, a depression screening performed by a pediatrician using a nationally-recognized depression screening tool.
The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other condition under the contract.
This section shall apply to those medical service corporation contracts in which the medical service corporation has reserved the right to change the premium.
3. A health service corporation contract that provides hospital and medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1985, c.236 (C.17:48E-1 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening patients who are under 18 years of age for depression, which coverage shall include, but is not limited to, a depression screening performed by a pediatrician using a nationally-recognized depression screening tool.
The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other condition under the contract.
This section shall apply to those health service corporation contracts in which the health service corporation has reserved the right to change the premium.
4. An individual health insurance policy that provides hospital and medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State pursuant to chapter 26 of Title 17B of the New Jersey Statutes, or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening patients who are under 18 years of age for depression, which coverage shall include, but is not limited to, a depression screening performed by a pediatrician using a nationally-recognized depression screening tool.
The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other condition under the policy.
This section shall apply to those policies in which the insurer has reserved the right to change the premium.
5. A group health insurance policy that provides hospital and medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State pursuant to chapter 27 of Title 17B of the New Jersey Statutes, or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening patients who are under 18 years of age for depression, which coverage shall include, but is not limited to, a depression screening performed by a pediatrician using a nationally-recognized depression screening tool.
The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other condition under the policy.
This section shall apply to those policies in which the insurer has reserved the right to change the premium.
6. An individual health benefits plan that provides hospital and medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1992, c.161 (C.17B:27A-2 et seq.), on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening patients who are under 18 years of age for depression, which coverage shall include, but is not limited to, a depression screening performed by a pediatrician using a nationally-recognized depression screening tool.
The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other condition under the health benefits plan.
This section shall apply to those health benefits plans in which the carrier has reserved the right to change the premium.
7. A small employer health benefits plan that provides hospital and medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1992, c.162 (C.17B:27A-17 et seq.), on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening patients who are under 18 years of age for depression, which coverage shall include, but is not limited to, a depression screening performed by a pediatrician using a nationally-recognized depression screening tool.
The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other condition under the health benefits plan.
This section shall apply to those health benefits plans in which the carrier has reserved the right to change the premium.
8. A health maintenance organization contract for health care services that is delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1973, c.337 (C.26:2J-1 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening patients who are under 18 years of age for depression, which coverage shall include, but is not limited to, a depression screening performed by a pediatrician using a nationally-recognized depression screening tool.
The health care services shall be provided to the same extent as for any other condition under the contract.
This section shall apply to those contracts for health care services under which the right to change the schedule of charges for enrollee coverage is reserved.
9. The State Health Benefits Commission shall ensure that every contract purchased by the commission, on or after the effective date of this act, that provides hospital or medical expense benefits shall provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening patients who are under 18 years of age for depression, which coverage shall include, but is not limited to, a depression screening performed by a pediatrician using a nationally-recognized depression screening tool.
10. The School Employees' Health Benefits Commission shall ensure that every contract purchased by the commission, on or after the effective date of this act, that provides hospital or medical expense benefits shall provide coverage for expenses incurred in screening patients who are under 18 years of age for depression, which coverage shall include, but is not limited to, a depression screening performed by a pediatrician using a nationally-recognized depression screening tool.
11. This act shall take effect on the 180th day after enactment and shall apply to policies or contracts issued or renewed on or after the effective date.
STATEMENT
This bill requires insurance coverage for expenses incurred in screening patients who are under 18 years of age for depression, including, but not limited to, a depression screening performed by a pediatrician using a nationally-recognized screening tool. The bill would apply to hospital, medical, and health service corporations; commercial individual, small employer, and larger group insurers; health maintenance organizations; and the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program.
Depression is associated with higher levels of stress and anxiety and can affect a teen's personal, school, work, social, and family life, leading to social isolation and other problems. Early diagnosis is essential to the effective treatment of depression in young people.
