Each health insurer offering group health insurance coverage that provides mental illness and drug and alcohol dependencies benefits must submit a report to the Delaware Health Information Network and Commissioner on or before July 1 2019, and any year thereafter during which the insurer makes significant changes to how it designs and applies its medical management protocols; the report must contain the following information:
(1) A description of the process used to develop or select the medical necessity criteria for mental illness and drug and alcohol dependencies benefits and the process used to develop or select the medical necessity criteria for medical and surgical benefits.
(2) Identification of all nonquantitative treatment limitations (NQTLs) that are applied to mental illness and drug and alcohol dependencies benefits and medical and surgical benefits within each classification of benefits; there may be no separate NQTLs that apply to mental illness and drug and alcohol dependencies benefits that do not also apply to medical and surgical benefits within any classification of benefits.
(3) The results of an analysis that demonstrates that for the medical necessity criteria described in paragraph (1) of this section and for each NQTL identified in paragraph (2) of this section, as written and in operation, the processes, strategies, evidentiary standards, or other factors used in applying the medical necessity criteria and each NQTL to mental illness and drug and alcohol dependencies 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 NQTL 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 an NQTL will apply 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 NQTL.
c. Provide the comparative analyses, including the results of the analyses, performed to determine that the processes and strategies used to design each NQTL, as written, for mental illness and drug and alcohol dependencies benefits are comparable to, and are applied no more stringently than, the processes and strategies used to design each NQTL, 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 NQTL, in operation, for mental illness and drug and alcohol dependencies benefits are comparable to, and applied no more stringently than, the processes or strategies used to apply each NQTL, in operation, for medical and surgical benefits.
e. Disclose the specific findings and conclusions reached by the insurer that the results of the analyses above indicate that the carrier is in compliance with this section and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 [P.L. 104-204] and its implementing regulations, which includes 45 C.F.R. 146.136 and any other related federal regulations found in the Code of Federal Regulations.
(4) Any information submitted to the Delaware Health Information Network and Commissioner by a carrier that is considered proprietary by the carrier shall not be made public record.
(5) The Insurance Commissioner shall retain the authority to enforce the provisions of this section. The provisions of this section shall not give rise to a private cause of action.
Structure Delaware Code
Chapter 35. GROUP AND BLANKET HEALTH INSURANCE
Subchapter III. Provisions Applicable to Group and Blanket Health Insurance
§ 3552. Cancer screening tests.
§ 3553. Midwife services reimbursement.
§ 3555. Coverage of cancer monitoring tests.
§ 3555A. Equal reimbursement for oral and intravenous anticancer medication.
§ 3556. Obstetrical and gynecological coverage.
§ 3557. Child abuse or neglect — Group coverage.
§ 3558. Immunizations and preventive services.
§ 3559. Contraceptive coverage.
§ 3560. Insurance coverage for diabetes.
§ 3560A. Cost sharing in prescription insulin drugs.
§ 3560B. Coverage for insulin pumps.
§ 3561. Annual pap smear coverage reimbursement.
§ 3562. Colorectal cancer screening.
§ 3563. Required coverage for reconstructive surgery following mastectomy.
§ 3565A. Required coverage for volunteer ambulance company services.
§ 3566. Prescription medication.
§ 3567B. Experimental treatment coverage.
§ 3568. Newborn and infant hearing screening; coverage and reimbursement.
§ 3569. Use of Social Security numbers on insurance cards.
§ 3570A. Autism spectrum disorders coverage.
§ 3571. Phenylketonuria (PKU) and other inherited metabolic diseases.
§ 3571A. Hearing aid coverage.
§ 3571B. Required coverage for scalp hair prosthesis.
§ 3571C. Dental services for children with a severe disability.
§ 3571D. Screening of infants and toddlers for developmental delays.
§ 3571E. Reimbursement for orthotic and prosthetic services.
§ 3571G. School-based health centers.
§ 3571H. Payment for emergency medical services.
§ 3571P. Rating factors [For application of this section, see 79 Del. Laws, c. 99, § 19].
§ 3571R. Telehealth and telemedicine.
§ 3571S. Network disclosure and transparency.
§ 3571U. Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act reporting requirements.
§ 3571V. Time of submitting claim for reimbursement.
§ 3571W. Electronic medical claims.
§ 3571X. Medication assisted treatment for drug and alcohol dependencies.
§ 3571Y. Coverage for epinephrine autoinjectors.
§ 3571Z. Annual behavioral health well check [Effective Jan. 1, 2024].