Subcommittee backs bill requiring insurer reimbursement for psychiatric collaborative care in primary care
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Summary
House Bill 654, advanced unanimously, would require commercial insurers to cover psychiatric collaborative care models embedded in primary care practices; the bill includes the state employee health benefit plan and was presented with amendment 4232.
The House Insurance Subcommittee on March 5 approved House Bill 654, which would require commercial health insurers to cover and reimburse mental‑health services delivered through psychiatric collaborative care models embedded in primary care.
Chairman Hicks presented the bill and noted it would incentivize primary care practices to build integrated behavioral health teams by clarifying coverage and reimbursement. The model described on the record is a federally recognized integrative behavioral‑health approach led by a primary care provider who contracts with or employs a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner as part of the care team. The sponsor said the bill includes the state employee health benefit plan.
An amendment (drafting code 4232) was attached at the outset of consideration and adopted before final passage. Committee members recorded a 5‑0 vote and the clerk announced the bill will move to the full Insurance Committee.
No roll‑call breakdown by member name was provided in the transcript; the committee tally was 5 ayes and 0 nays. The transcript did not include fiscal analysis or implementation timelines on the record.