(a) For purposes of this section, “medication-assisted treatment” means the use of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a whole patient approach to the treatment of drug and alcohol dependencies.
(b) If group health insurance coverage provides prescription medication benefits for the treatment of mental illness and drug and alcohol dependencies, a health insurer must place at least 1 formulation of a medication-assisted treatment on the lowest tier of the drug formulary developed and maintained by the carrier, including each of the following:
(1) Buprenorphine.
(2) Naltrexone.
(3) Naloxone.
(4) A product containing both buprenorphine and naloxone.
(c) A health insurer that provides coverage for prescription drugs must cover the fees associated with the administration or dispensing of methadone dispensed at an opioid treatment program as defined under 42 C.F.R. § 8.2.
(d) A health insurer shall provide benefits under this section as follows:
(1) Not impose a prior authorization requirement.
(2) Must authorize coverage of prescription medicine without imposing a step therapy requirement for at least 1 formulation of each prescription medication for medication-assisted treatment that is on each tier of the drug formulary developed and maintained by the health insurer.
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].