Bill Text: TX SB1478 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to coverage of certain eating disorders as serious mental illnesses under certain group health benefit plans.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-19 - Referred to Business & Commerce [SB1478 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-SB1478-Introduced.html

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84R8045 SCL-F
By: Garcia S.B. No. 1478

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to coverage of certain eating disorders as serious mental
illnesses under certain group health benefit plans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1355.001(1), Insurance Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(1) "Serious mental illness" means the following
psychiatric illnesses as defined by the American Psychiatric
Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM):
(A) bipolar disorders (hypomanic, manic,
depressive, and mixed);
(B) depression in childhood and adolescence;
(C) major depressive disorders (single episode
or recurrent);
(D) obsessive-compulsive disorders;
(E) paranoid and other psychotic disorders;
(F) schizo-affective disorders (bipolar or
depressive); [and]
(G) schizophrenia; and
(H) anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and
eating disorders not otherwise specified.
SECTION 2. (a) On or before September 1, 2018, the Sunset
Advisory Commission shall conduct a study to determine:
(1) to what extent the health benefit plan coverage
required by the change in law made by this Act to Section
1355.001(1), Insurance Code, is being used by enrollees in health
benefit plans to which Subchapter A, Chapter 1355, Insurance Code,
applies; and
(2) the impact of the required coverage on the cost of
those health benefit plans.
(b) The Sunset Advisory Commission shall report its
findings under this section to the legislature on or before January
1, 2019.
(c) The Texas Department of Insurance and any other state
agency shall cooperate with the Sunset Advisory Commission as
necessary to implement this section.
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a group health benefit plan that is delivered, issued for
delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2016. A group health
benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed
before January 1, 2016, is governed by the law as it existed
immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.