Committee hears bill to require insurers to cover behavioral-health screening at no cost

The House Business and Labor Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 244 on March 17, a measure that would require health-insurance plans to cover behavioral-health screening assessments at no out-of-pocket cost to patients, including coverage consistent with state employee group benefit plans.

Sponsor remarks and proponents' testimony said the bill aims to reduce financial and stigma-related barriers to mental-health screening. "This is a $30 cost on your bill when it goes to that level of screening," the bill sponsor said, arguing insurers support the change and that early screening can avoid larger costs later.

Proponents told the committee that routine screening identifies people who might otherwise be missed. JJ Carmody, representing Billings Clinic Logan Health, cited national data showing many people who die by suicide have seen a…