Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 41 First Substitute (2021GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Escamilla, L.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/2/2021

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms; and
• requires a health benefit plan to reimburse for telehealth services for a mental health condition if certain conditions are met.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Luz Escamilla
House Sponsor: 
Stewart E. Barlow
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies an insurer's responsibilities for mental health coverage.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms; and
▸ requires a health benefit plan to reimburse for telehealth services for a mental health
condition if certain conditions are met. 
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
31A-22-649.5
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 119
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
31A-22-649.5
 is amended to read:
31A-22-649.5.
Insurance parity for telemedicine services.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Mental health condition" means the same as that term is defined in Section
31A-22-625
.
[
(a)
] 
(b)
 "Telehealth services" means the same as that term is defined in Section
26-60-102
.
[
(b)
] 
(c)
 "Telemedicine services" means the same as that term is defined in Section
26-60-102
.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 
31A-22-618.5
, a health benefit plan
offered in the individual market, the small group market, or the large group market [
and
entered into or renewed on or after January 1, 2021,
] shall:
(a) provide coverage for telemedicine services that are covered by Medicare; [
and
]
(b) reimburse, at a commercially reasonable rate, a network provider that provides the
telemedicine services described in Subsection (2)(a)[
.
]
; and
(c) provide coverage for medically necessary treatment of a mental health condition
through telehealth services if:
(i) the health benefit plan provides coverage for the treatment of the mental health
condition through in person services; and
(ii) the insurer determines treatment of the mental health condition through telehealth
services meets the appropriate standard of care.
(3) Notwithstanding Section 
31A-45-303
, a health benefit plan providing treatment
under Subsection (2) may not impose originating site restrictions, geographic restrictions, or
distance-based restrictions.
Section 2. 
Effective date.
If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this bill takes effect
upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
Constitution, Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto,
the date of veto override.