GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

H	2 

HOUSE BILL 1161
Committee Substitute Favorable 6/30/93

Short Title:  Brain Disorder/Insurance Study.	(Public)
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Sponsors:
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Referred to:  
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April 19, 1993

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO DIRECT THE MENTAL HEALTH STUDY COMMISSION TO STUDY INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR BIOLOGICALLY BASED BRAIN DISEASES.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The Mental Health Study Commission shall study a proposal to require health benefit plans to provide health insurance coverage for biologically based brain disorders to the same extent and subject to the same deductibles, copayments, and limitations generally applicable to other physical illnesses.  For purposes of this act, "biologically based brain disorder" includes schizophrenia, manic-depressive or bipolar disorder, severe and persistent depression or unipolar disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and Tourette's disease.
Sec. 2.  The Commission shall address, among other issues, the costs in providing this coverage and the medical evidence concerning the biological basis for the specified brain disorders.
Sec. 3.  The Commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly at the conclusion of its study.  A final report may be made at any time, provided that a progress report on the study must be made to the General Assembly prior to the convening of the 1995 General Assembly.
Sec. 4.  This act is effective upon ratification.