Maine Code § 24-A-2749-C

Mental health services coverage
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1. Coverage for treatment for certain mental illnesses. Coverage for medical treatment for
mental illnesses listed in paragraph A-1 by all individual policies is subject to this section.
A. [PL 2019, c. 5, Pt. D, §1 (RP).]
A-1. All individual contracts must provide, at a minimum, benefits according to paragraph B,
subparagraph (1) for a person receiving medical treatment for any of the following categories of
mental illness as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual as defined in section 2843,
subsection 3, paragraph A-1, except for those that are designated as "V" codes by the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual:
(1) Psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia;
(2) Dissociative disorders;
(3) Mood disorders;
(4) Anxiety disorders;
(5) Personality disorders;
(6) Paraphilias;
(7) Attention deficit and disruptive behavior disorders;
(8) Pervasive developmental disorders;
(9) Tic disorders;
(10) Eating disorders, including bulimia and anorexia; and
(11) Substance use disorders.
For the purposes of this paragraph, the mental illness must be diagnosed by a licensed allopathic or
osteopathic physician or a licensed psychologist who is trained and has received a doctorate in

psychology specializing in the evaluation and treatment of mental illness. [PL 2019, c. 5, Pt. D,
§1 (NEW).]
B. All individual policies and contracts executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or
renewed in this State must provide coverage providing benefits that meet the requirements of this
paragraph.
(1) The coverage must provide benefits for the treatment and diagnosis of mental illnesses
under terms and conditions that are no less extensive than the benefits provided for medical
treatment for physical illnesses.
(2) At the request of a reimbursing insurer, a provider of medical treatment for mental illness
shall furnish data substantiating that initial or continued treatment is medically necessary health
care. When making the determination of whether treatment is medically necessary health care,
the provider shall use the same criteria for medical treatment for mental illness as for medical
treatment for physical illness under the individual policy. An insurer may not deny treatment
for mental health services that use evidence-based practices and are determined to be medically
necessary health care for an individual 21 years of age or younger. For the purposes of this
subparagraph, "evidence-based practices" means clinically sound and scientifically based
policies, practices and programs that reflect expert consensus on the prevention, treatment and
recovery science, including, but not limited to, policies, practices and programs published and
disseminated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Title
IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse within the United States Department of Health and
Human Services, the What Works Clearinghouse within the United States Department of
Education, Institute of Education Sciences and the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse
for Child Welfare within the California Department of Social Services, Office of Child Abuse
Prevention. [PL 2021, c. 595, §2 (AMD).]
[PL 2021, c. 595, §2 (AMD).]
2. Contracts; providers. An insurer incorporated under this chapter shall offer contracts to
providers authorizing the provision of mental health services within the scope of the provider's
licensure.
[PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. VV, §9 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. VV, §25 (AFF).]
3. Limits; coinsurance; deductibles. A policy or contract that provides coverage for the services
required by this section may contain provisions for maximum benefits and coinsurance and reasonable
limitations, deductibles and exclusions to the extent that these provisions are not inconsistent with the
requirements of this section.
[PL 1995, c. 407, §5 (NEW).]
4. Reports to the superintendent. Every insurer subject to this section shall report its experience
for each calendar year to the superintendent no later than April 30th of the following year. The report
must be in a form prescribed by the superintendent and include the amount of claims paid in this State
for the services required by this section and the total amount of claims paid in this State for individual
health care policies, both separated according to those paid for inpatient, day treatment and outpatient
services. The superintendent shall compile this data for all insurers in an annual report.
[PL 1995, c. 407, §5 (NEW).]
5. Application. Except as otherwise provided, the requirements of this section apply to all policies
and contracts executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State on or after
July 1, 1996. For purposes of this section, all policies are deemed renewed no later than the next yearly
anniversary of the contract date. Nothing in this section applies to accidental injury, specified disease,
hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, long-term care or other limited benefit health insurance
policies.
[PL 1995, c. 407, §5 (NEW).]

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