HARRY HUGHES, Governor

3959

termination date altering the rate at which certain health
insurance policies are required to provide benefits for the
treatment of acute mental illnesses and emotional disorders;
providing for the application of this Act in a certain
manner; and providing a termination date for this Act.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 48A - Insurance Code

Section 354D(a), 470E(a), and 477E(a)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1979 Replacement Volume and 1985 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 48A - Insurance Code

354D.

(a) Every hospital or major medical contract or certificate
delivered or issued for delivery, within this State by a
nonprofit health service organization, including both individual
policies and group policies, must include benefits for expenses
arising from treatment of acute mental illnesses and emotional
disorders which in the professional judgment of practitioners are
subject to significant improvement through short-term therapy.
These benefits must be at least equal to the following minimum
requirements: (1) with respect to benefits for confinement as an
inpatient in a hospital, the period of confinement for which
benefits are payable shall be at least 30 days in any calendar
year or benefit period; (2) with respect to major medical expense
coverage, benefits, after the applicable deductible, for covered
expenses arising from all those services, other than inpatient,
which are rendered to treat acute mental illness and emotional
disorders, shall be [at a rate which is not less than 65
PERCENT FOR THE FIRST 15 20 VISITS PER YEAR CALENDAR YEAR OR
BENEFIT PERIOD AND NOT LESS THAN 50 percent FOR ANY VISITS
THEREAFTER FOR THAT YEAR CALENDER YEAR OR BENEFIT PERIOD. of]
EQUIVALENT TO the benefits which the policy provides for other
types of illness.

470E.

(a) Every individual hospital or major medical insurance
policy written on an expense incurred basis which is delivered or
issued for delivery, within this State must include benefits for
expenses arising from treatment of acute mental illnesses and
emotional disorders which in the professional judgment of
practitioners are subject to significant improvement through
short-term therapy. These benefits must be at least equal to the
following minimum requirements: (1) with respect to benefits for
confinement as an inpatient in a hospital, the period of
confinement for which benefits are payable shall be at least 30
days in any calendar year or benefit period; (2) with respect to