House Bill 292

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THAT CERTAIN HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES AND CONTRACTS SHALL PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR THE TREATMENT OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) As used in this section, "autism spectrum disorders" means neurological disorders, usually appearing in the first three (3) years of a person's life, that affect normal brain functions and are typically manifested by impairments in communication and social interaction, as well as restrictive, repetitive and stereotyped behaviors.

(2) All individual and group health insurance policies providing coverage on an expense-incurred basis, individual and group service or indemnity type contracts issued by a nonprofit corporation, individual and group service contracts issued by a health maintenance organization, all self-insured group arrangements to the extent not preempted by federal law and all managed health care delivery entities of any type or description that are delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed on or after July 1, 2013, and providing coverage to any resident of this state shall provide benefits or coverage for treatment of autism spectrum disorders that are at least as compressive as those provided for other neurological disorders. These benefits and coverage for treatment shall be provided to any person younger than twenty-seven (27) years of age.

(3) Benefits provided for treatment of autism spectrum disorders shall (a) be subject to deductible and copayment requirements and benefit limits that are no more stringent than those established for the treatment of other neurological disorders, and (b) have an annual limitation for treatments comparable to that of other neurological disorders.

(4) An insurer that provides benefits for neurological disorders shall not refuse to renew policies, reissue policies, or otherwise terminate or restrict services to a person solely because the person is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

(5) The provisions of this section shall not expand the type or scope of treatment beyond that authorized for any other diagnosed neurological disorder and shall be effective upon any contract, policy or plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, amended or renewed on or after January 1, 2013.

(6) Nothing in this section shall apply to accident-only, specified disease, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, long-term care, or other limited benefit hospital insurance policies.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after January 1, 2013.