WellPath Changes Group Contracts to Comply with NC Mental Health Parity Mandates
Effective July 1, 2008, the state of North Carolina is implementing new mental health parity mandates requiring group insurers to provide the same level of coverage for treatment of certain mental health conditions as they do for any medical condition. As a result, WellPath is changing its group contracts to include new coverage provisions for mental health and substance-related disorders to comply with the new mandates.
As of July 1, the following diagnoses will be covered the same as any physical illness:
- Bipolar disorder
- Major depressive disorder
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Paranoid and other psychotic disorders
- Schizoaffective disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Anorexia nervosa
- Bulimia
All other mental health diagnoses and substance abuse services will be subject to the state mandated minimum limit of 30 days per year. This is a combined limit for network and non-network services.
These effects will be effective for groups at their renewal on or following July 1, 2008.
Please note: These changes are mandated for fully insured customers and optional for self-funded customers. Should you have any questions regarding any of these changes, please contact our office at 919-403-1986.
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June 27, 2008
Hill, Chesson & Woody
Employee Benefit Services
194 Finley Golf Course Road, Suite 200,
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Phone: 919.403.1986
Fax: 919.913.0237
www.hcwbenefits.com