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SB 744 - Under this act, each health carrier must provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders beginning January 1, 2011. Under the terms of the act, health carriers shall not deny eligibility or continued eligibility to an individual to enroll or renew coverage under the terms of the plan solely for the purpose of avoiding the requirements of the act or deny coverage for treatment of eating disorders, including coverage for residential treatment of eating disorders, if such treatment is medically necessary in accordance with the Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Patients with Eating Disorders. Under the act, health carriers shall not provide monetary payments, rebates, or other benefits to individuals to encourage such individuals to accept less than the minimum protections available under the act. In addition, a health carrier shall not penalize or otherwise reduce or limit the reimbursement of a health care provider because such provider provided care to a beneficiary in accordance with this act. The eating disorder health insurance mandate requires the insurer to provide access to psychiatric and medical treatment under the plan and provide coverage for integrated care and treatments as prescribed by medical and psychiatric health care professionals, including but not limited to nutrition counseling, physical therapy, dietician services, medical monitoring, and psychiatric monitoring. Nothing in the act shall be construed as requiring a health carrier to provide coverage of mental illness. The act also requires the Department of Mental Health, in collaboration with the departments of Health and Senior Services and Social Services, to provide diagnosis and treatment services for any resident of this state who does not have insurance coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders or is in need of financial assistance to pay for the diagnosis and treatment of an eating disorder. Such eating disorder care shall be provided at eating disorder specialty units, private facilities, and state-operated facilities that have licensed eating disorder specialists on staff. The act establishes within the Department of Mental Health the "Missouri Eating Disorder Council" which shall consist of the following persons to be selected by and the number of members to be determined by the director of the department of mental health: (1) Director's designees from the department of mental health; (2) Eating disorder researchers, clinicians, and patient advocacy groups; and (3) The general public. The number of members on the council is determined by director of the department of mental health. The act sets forth the members' terms and how the council must conduct their meetings. Under the act, the council has the power to oversee the eating disorder education and awareness programs established by the act. The council is also empowered to identify whether adequate treatment and diagnostic services are available in the state. Under the act, the Department of Mental Health, in collaboration with the departments of Health and Senior Services, Elementary and Secondary Education, and Higher Education and in consultation with the Missouri eating disorder council, must develop and implement certain education and awareness programs which are delineated in the act. The provisions contained in this act are similar to ones contained in SB 463 and HB 519 (2009). STEPHEN WITTE
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