Bill for parity in coverage, payments for mental health services now law
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios has signed into law a bill that would establish parity in coverage and payments for mental health and behavioral health services delivered through telehealth and in-person.
House Bill 23-47, SD1, is now Public Law 23-13. Rep. Malcolm J. Omar (Ind-Saipan) is the author of the legislation.
The House passed the bill without amendments last July. The Senate passed it with amendments last October and returned it to the House. Last Nov. 6, the House unanimously accepted the Senate’s amendments and passed the legislation.
At the Nov. 6 House session, Omar said the Senate’s only revision was the addition of Behavioral Health to the title.
Omar stated in the bill that this legislation contributes to the expansion of mental health services by requiring parity for payment of telehealth services in the CNMI.
According to the bill, to implement the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, or PSYPACT, and increase public access in the CNMI to professional psychological and other mental health services by telehealth, there is a need to ensure the public is able to afford those services by requiring private payer, Medicaid, and other governmental plans or policies to provide coverage similar to in-person services.
The bill amended the Commonwealth Code by adding a new Chapter 8 that deals with Mental Health and Behavioral Coverage.
Those who testified before the Legislature to support the bill were Community Guidance Center director Joseph Kevin Villagomez, licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Anne V. Erhard, acting Commerce secretary Francisco Cabrera, Community Solutions president and former representative Sheila Jack Babauta, and special assistant for the Climate Policy and Planning Program and former representative Christina E. Sablan.
Among those who provided written comments in support of the legislation were Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. chief executive officer Esther L. Muña and Marianas Office-Micronesian Legal Services Corp. directing attorney Jane Mack.
Rep. Malcolm J. Omar
