215 ILCS 5/370c.1

(215 ILCS 5/370c.1)

Sec. 370c.1. Mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition parity.

(a) On and after July 23, 2021 (the effective date of Public Act 102-135), every insurer that amends, delivers, issues, or renews a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a qualified health plan offered through the Health Insurance Marketplace in this State providing coverage for hospital or medical treatment and for the treatment of mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions shall ensure prior to policy issuance that:

(1) the financial requirements applicable to such mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits are no more restrictive than the predominant financial requirements applied to substantially all hospital and medical benefits covered by the policy and that there are no separate cost-sharing requirements that are applicable only with respect to mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits; and

(2) the treatment limitations applicable to such mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits are no more restrictive than the predominant treatment limitations applied to substantially all hospital and medical benefits covered by the policy and that there are no separate treatment limitations that are applicable only with respect to mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits.

(b) The following provisions shall apply concerning aggregate lifetime limits:

(1) In the case of a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a qualified health plan offered through the Health Insurance Marketplace amended, delivered, issued, or renewed in this State on or after September 9, 2015 (the effective date of Public Act 99-480) that provides coverage for hospital or medical treatment and for the treatment of mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions the following provisions shall apply:

(A) if the policy does not include an aggregate lifetime limit on substantially all hospital and medical benefits, then the policy may not impose any aggregate lifetime limit on mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits; or

(B) if the policy includes an aggregate lifetime limit on substantially all hospital and medical benefits (in this subsection referred to as the "applicable lifetime limit"), then the policy shall either:

(i) apply the applicable lifetime limit both to the hospital and medical benefits to which it otherwise would apply and to mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits and not distinguish in the application of the limit between the hospital and medical benefits and mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits; or

(ii) not include any aggregate lifetime limit on mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits that is less than the applicable lifetime limit.

(2) In the case of a policy that is not described in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of this Section and that includes no or different aggregate lifetime limits on different categories of hospital and medical benefits, the Director shall establish rules under which subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of this Section is applied to such policy with respect to mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits by substituting for the applicable lifetime limit an average aggregate lifetime limit that is computed taking into account the weighted average of the aggregate lifetime limits applicable to such categories.

(c) The following provisions shall apply concerning annual limits:

(1) In the case of a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a qualified health plan offered through the Health Insurance Marketplace amended, delivered, issued, or renewed in this State on or after September 9, 2015 (the effective date of Public Act 99-480) that provides coverage for hospital or medical treatment and for the treatment of mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions the following provisions shall apply:

(A) if the policy does not include an annual limit on substantially all hospital and medical benefits, then the policy may not impose any annual limits on mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits; or

(B) if the policy includes an annual limit on substantially all hospital and medical benefits (in this subsection referred to as the "applicable annual limit"), then the policy shall either:

(i) apply the applicable annual limit both to the hospital and medical benefits to which it otherwise would apply and to mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits and not distinguish in the application of the limit between the hospital and medical benefits and mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits; or

(ii) not include any annual limit on mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits that is less than the applicable annual limit.

(2) In the case of a policy that is not described in paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of this Section and that includes no or different annual limits on different categories of hospital and medical benefits, the Director shall establish rules under which subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of this Section is applied to such policy with respect to mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits by substituting for the applicable annual limit an average annual limit that is computed taking into account the weighted average of the annual limits applicable to such categories.

(d) With respect to mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions, an insurer shall use policies and procedures for the election and placement of mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition treatment drugs on their formulary that are no less favorable to the insured as those policies and procedures the insurer uses for the selection and placement of drugs for medical or surgical conditions and shall follow the expedited coverage determination requirements for substance abuse treatment drugs set forth in Section 45.2 of the Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act.

(e) This Section shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with all applicable federal parity regulations including, but not limited to, the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, final regulations issued under the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 and final regulations applying the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 to Medicaid managed care organizations, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and alternative benefit plans.

(f) The provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this Section shall not be interpreted to allow the use of lifetime or annual limits otherwise prohibited by State or federal law.

(g) As used in this Section:

"Financial requirement" includes deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximums, but does not include an aggregate lifetime limit or an annual limit subject to subsections (b) and (c).

"Mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition" means a condition or disorder that involves a mental health condition or substance use disorder that falls under any of the diagnostic categories listed in the mental and behavioral disorders chapter of the current edition of the International Classification of Disease or that is listed in the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

"Treatment limitation" includes limits on benefits based on the frequency of treatment, number of visits, days of coverage, days in a waiting period, or other similar limits on the scope or duration of treatment. "Treatment limitation" includes both quantitative treatment limitations, which are expressed numerically (such as 50 outpatient visits per year), and nonquantitative treatment limitations, which otherwise limit the scope or duration of treatment. A permanent exclusion of all benefits for a particular condition or disorder shall not be considered a treatment limitation. "Nonquantitative treatment" means those limitations as described under federal regulations (26 CFR 54.9812-1). "Nonquantitative treatment limitations" include, but are not limited to, those limitations described under federal regulations 26 CFR 54.9812-1, 29 CFR 2590.712, and 45 CFR 146.136.

(h) The Department of Insurance shall implement the following education initiatives:

(1) By January 1, 2016, the Department shall develop a plan for a Consumer Education Campaign on parity. The Consumer Education Campaign shall focus its efforts throughout the State and include trainings in the northern, southern, and central regions of the State, as defined by the Department, as well as each of the 5 managed care regions of the State as identified by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Under this Consumer Education Campaign, the Department shall: (1) by January 1, 2017, provide at least one live training in each region on parity for consumers and providers and one webinar training to be posted on the Department website and (2) establish a consumer hotline to assist consumers in navigating the parity process by March 1, 2017. By January 1, 2018 the Department shall issue a report to the General Assembly on the success of the Consumer Education Campaign, which shall indicate whether additional training is necessary or would be recommended.

(2) The Department, in coordination with the Department of Human Services and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, shall convene a working group of health care insurance carriers, mental health advocacy groups, substance abuse patient advocacy groups, and mental health physician groups for the purpose of discussing issues related to the treatment and coverage of mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions and compliance with parity obligations under State and federal law. Compliance shall be measured, tracked, and shared during the meetings of the working group. The working group shall meet once before January 1, 2016 and shall meet semiannually thereafter. The Department shall issue an annual report to the General Assembly that includes a list of the health care insurance carriers, mental health advocacy groups, substance abuse patient advocacy groups, and mental health physician groups that participated in the working group meetings, details on the issues and topics covered, and any legislative recommendations developed by the working group.

(3) Not later than January 1 of each year, the Department, in conjunction with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, shall issue a joint report to the General Assembly and provide an educational presentation to the General Assembly. The report and presentation shall:

(A) Cover the methodology the Departments use to check for compliance with the federal Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, 42 U.S.C. 18031(j), and any federal regulations or guidance relating to the compliance and oversight of the federal Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 and 42 U.S.C. 18031(j).

(B) Cover the methodology the Departments use to check for compliance with this Section and Sections 356z.23 and 370c of this Code.

(C) Identify market conduct examinations or, in the case of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, audits conducted or completed during the preceding 12-month period regarding compliance with parity in mental, emotional, nervous, and substance use disorder or condition benefits under State and federal laws and summarize the results of such market conduct examinations and audits. This shall include:

(i) the number of market conduct examinations and audits initiated and completed;

(ii) the benefit classifications examined by each market conduct examination and audit;

(iii) the subject matter of each market conduct examination and audit, including quantitative and nonquantitative treatment limitations; and

(iv) a summary of the basis for the final decision rendered in each market conduct examination and audit.

Individually identifiable information shall be excluded from the reports consistent with federal privacy protections.

(D) Detail any educational or corrective actions the Departments have taken to ensure compliance with the federal Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, 42 U.S.C. 18031(j), this Section, and Sections 356z.23 and 370c of this Code.

(E) The report must be written in non-technical, readily understandable language and shall be made available to the public by, among such other means as the Departments find appropriate, posting the report on the Departments' websites.

(i) The Parity Advancement Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Moneys from fines and penalties collected from insurers for violations of this Section shall be deposited into the Fund. Moneys deposited into the Fund for appropriation by the General Assembly to the Department shall be used for the purpose of providing financial support of the Consumer Education Campaign, parity compliance advocacy, and other initiatives that support parity implementation and enforcement on behalf of consumers.

(j) (Blank).

(j-5) The Department of Insurance shall collect the following information:

(1) The number of employment disability insurance plans offered in this State, including, but not limited to:

(A) individual short-term policies;

(B) individual long-term policies;

(C) group short-term policies; and

(D) group long-term policies.

(2) The number of policies referenced in paragraph (1) of this subsection that limit mental health and substance use disorder benefits.

(3) The average defined benefit period for the policies referenced in paragraph (1) of this subsection, both for those policies that limit and those policies that have no limitation on mental health and substance use disorder benefits.

(4) Whether the policies referenced in paragraph (1) of this subsection are purchased on a voluntary or non-voluntary basis.

(5) The identities of the individuals, entities, or a combination of the 2 that assume the cost associated with covering the policies referenced in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(6) The average defined benefit period for plans that cover physical disability and mental health and substance abuse without limitation, including, but not limited to:

(A) individual short-term policies;

(B) individual long-term policies;

(C) group short-term policies; and

(D) group long-term policies.

(7) The average premiums for disability income insurance issued in this State for:

(A) individual short-term policies that limit mental health and substance use disorder benefits;

(B) individual long-term policies that limit mental health and substance use disorder benefits;

(C) group short-term policies that limit mental health and substance use disorder benefits;

(D) group long-term policies that limit mental health and substance use disorder benefits;

(E) individual short-term policies that include mental health and substance use disorder benefits without limitation;

(F) individual long-term policies that include mental health and substance use disorder benefits without limitation;

(G) group short-term policies that include mental health and substance use disorder benefits without limitation; and

(H) group long-term policies that include mental health and substance use disorder benefits without limitation.

The Department shall present its findings regarding information collected under this subsection (j-5) to the General Assembly no later than April 30, 2024. Information regarding a specific insurance provider's contributions to the Department's report shall be exempt from disclosure under paragraph (t) of subsection (1) of Section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act. The aggregated information gathered by the Department shall not be exempt from disclosure under paragraph (t) of subsection (1) of Section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act.

(k) An insurer that amends, delivers, issues, or renews a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a qualified health plan offered through the health insurance marketplace in this State providing coverage for hospital or medical treatment and for the treatment of mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions shall submit an annual report, the format and definitions for which will be determined by the Department and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and posted on their respective websites, starting on September 1, 2023 and annually thereafter, that contains the following information separately for inpatient in-network benefits, inpatient out-of-network benefits, outpatient in-network benefits, outpatient out-of-network benefits, emergency care benefits, and prescription drug benefits in the case of accident and health insurance or qualified health plans, or inpatient, outpatient, emergency care, and prescription drug benefits in the case of medical assistance:

(1) A summary of the plan's pharmacy management processes for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits compared to those for other medical benefits.

(2) A summary of the internal processes of review for experimental benefits and unproven technology for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits and those for other medical benefits.

(3) A summary of how the plan's policies and procedures for utilization management for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits compare to those for other medical benefits.

(4) A description of the process used to develop or select the medical necessity criteria for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits and the process used to develop or select the medical necessity criteria for medical and surgical benefits.

(5) Identification of all nonquantitative treatment limitations that are applied to both mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits and medical and surgical benefits within each classification of benefits.

(6) The results of an analysis that demonstrates that for the medical necessity criteria described in subparagraph (A) and for each nonquantitative treatment limitation identified in subparagraph (B), as written and in operation, the processes, strategies, evidentiary standards, or other factors used in applying the medical necessity criteria and each nonquantitative treatment limitation to mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits within each classification of benefits are comparable to, and are applied no more stringently than, the processes, strategies, evidentiary standards, or other factors used in applying the medical necessity criteria and each nonquantitative treatment limitation to medical and surgical benefits within the corresponding classification of benefits; at a minimum, the results of the analysis shall:

(A) identify the factors used to determine that a nonquantitative treatment limitation applies to a benefit, including factors that were considered but rejected;

(B) identify and define the specific evidentiary standards used to define the factors and any other evidence relied upon in designing each nonquantitative treatment limitation;

(C) provide the comparative analyses, including the results of the analyses, performed to determine that the processes and strategies used to design each nonquantitative treatment limitation, as written, for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits are comparable to, and are applied no more stringently than, the processes and strategies used to design each nonquantitative treatment limitation, as written, for medical and surgical benefits;

(D) provide the comparative analyses, including the results of the analyses, performed to determine that the processes and strategies used to apply each nonquantitative treatment limitation, in operation, for mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorder or condition benefits are comparable to, and applied no more stringently than, the processes or strategies used to apply each nonquantitative treatment limitation, in operation, for medical and surgical benefits; and

(E) disclose the specific findings and conclusions reached by the insurer that the results of the analyses described in subparagraphs (C) and (D) indicate that the insurer is in compliance with this Section and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 and its implementing regulations, which includes 42 CFR Parts 438, 440, and 457 and 45 CFR 146.136 and any other related federal regulations found in the Code of Federal Regulations.

(7) Any other information necessary to clarify data provided in accordance with this Section requested by the Director, including information that may be proprietary or have commercial value, under the requirements of Section 30 of the Viatical Settlements Act of 2009.

(l) An insurer that amends, delivers, issues, or renews a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a qualified health plan offered through the health insurance marketplace in this State providing coverage for hospital or medical treatment and for the treatment of mental, emotional, nervous, or substance use disorders or conditions on or after January 1, 2019 (the effective date of Public Act 100-1024) shall, in advance of the plan year, make available to the Department or, with respect to medical assistance, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and to all plan participants and beneficiaries the information required in subparagraphs (C) through (E) of paragraph (6) of subsection (k). For plan participants and medical assistance beneficiaries, the information required in subparagraphs (C) through (E) of paragraph (6) of subsection (k) shall be made available on a publicly available website whose web address is prominently displayed in plan and managed care organization informational and marketing materials.

(m) In conjunction with its compliance examination program conducted in accordance with the Illinois State Auditing Act, the Auditor General shall undertake a review of compliance by the Department and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services with Section 370c and this Section. Any findings resulting from the review conducted under this Section shall be included in the applicable State agency's compliance examination report. Each compliance examination report shall be issued in accordance with Section 3-14 of the Illinois State Auditing Act. A copy of each report shall also be delivered to the head of the applicable State agency and posted on the Auditor General's website.

(Source: P.A. 102-135, eff. 7-23-21; 102-579, eff. 8-25-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-94, eff. 1-1-24; 103-105, eff. 6-27-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)