3958                                                      VETOES

HAS REACHED BUDGETED CAPACITY HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE
JUVENILE SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1986.

May 27, 1986
The Honorable Benjamin L. Cardin
Speaker of the House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis, Maryland 21404

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland
Constitution, I have today vetoed House Bill 651.

This bill requires health insurers to provide benefits for
outpatient treatment of mental illness at a rate of not less than
65% for the first 20 visits per year and not less than 50% for
additional visits in the same year.

Senate Bill 12, which was passed by the General Assembly and
signed by me on May 27, 1986, accomplishes the same purpose.
Therefore, it is not necessary for me to sign House Bill 651.

Sincerely,
Harry Hughes
Governor

House Bill No. 651

AN ACT concerning

Health Insurance - Mental Illness

FOR the purpose of providing that certain health insurance
policies are required to provide benefits for other than
inpatient treatment of acute mental illnesses and emotional
disorders that are equivalent to the benefits provided for
other types of illnesses, instead of at a rate which is not
less than 50 percent of those benefits at one rate up to a
certain number of visits, and another rate for the remaining
visits; making this Act contingent on the Secretary of
Health and Mental Hygiene and the Secretary of Public Safety

and Correctional Services adopting certain regulations

regarding the delivery of emergency mental health services;
and generally relating to mental illness; and providing a