2010 Hawaii Code
DIVISION 2. BUSINESS
TITLE 24. INSURANCE
431M. Mental Health and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Insurance Benefits
§431M-4 Mental illness, alcohol and drug dependence benefits.

§431M-4 Mental illness, alcohol and drug dependence benefits. (a) The covered benefit under this chapter shall not be less than thirty days of in-hospital services per year. Each day of in-hospital services may be exchanged for two days of nonhospital residential services, two days of partial hospitalization services, or two days of day treatment services. Visits to a physician, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, licensed mental health counselor, or advanced practice registered nurse shall not be less than thirty visits per year to hospital or nonhospital facilities or to mental health outpatient facilities for day treatment or partial hospitalization services. Each day of in-hospital services may also be exchanged for two outpatient visits under this chapter; provided that the patient's condition is such that the outpatient services would reasonably preclude hospitalization. The total covered benefit for outpatient services in subsections (b) and (c) shall not be less than twenty-four visits per year; provided that coverage of twelve of the twenty-four outpatient visits shall apply only to the services under subsection (c). The other covered benefits under this chapter shall apply to any of the services in subsection (b) or (c). In the case of alcohol and drug dependence benefits, the insurance policy may limit the number of treatment episodes but may not limit the number to less than two treatment episodes per lifetime. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit serious mental illness benefits.

(b) Alcohol and drug dependence benefits shall be as follows:

(1) Detoxification services as a covered benefit under this chapter shall be provided either in a hospital or in a nonhospital facility that has a written affiliation agreement with a hospital for emergency, medical, and mental health support services. The following services shall be covered under detoxification services:

(A) Room and board;

(B) Diagnostic x-rays;

(C) Laboratory testing; and

(D) Drugs, equipment use, special therapies, and supplies.

Detoxification services shall be included as part of the covered in-hospital services, but shall not be included in the treatment episode limitation, as specified in subsection (a);

(2) Alcohol or drug dependence treatment through in-hospital, nonhospital residential, or day treatment substance abuse services as a covered benefit under this chapter shall be provided in a hospital or nonhospital facility. Before a person qualifies to receive benefits under this subsection, a qualified physician, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, licensed mental health counselor, or advanced practice registered nurse shall determine that the person suffers from alcohol or drug dependence, or both; provided that the substance abuse services covered under this paragraph shall include those services that are required for licensure and accreditation and shall be included as part of the covered in-hospital services as specified in subsection (a). Excluded from alcohol or drug dependence treatment under this subsection are detoxification services and educational programs to which drinking or drugged drivers are referred by the judicial system and services performed by mutual self-help groups;

(3) Alcohol or drug dependence outpatient services as a covered benefit under this chapter shall be provided under an individualized treatment plan approved by a qualified physician, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, licensed mental health counselor, or advanced practice registered nurse and shall be services reasonably expected to produce remission of the patient's condition. An individualized treatment plan approved by a marriage and family therapist, licensed mental health counselor, licensed clinical social worker, or an advanced practice registered nurse for a patient already under the care or treatment of a physician or psychologist shall be done in consultation with the physician or psychologist. Services covered under this paragraph shall be included as part of the covered outpatient services as specified in subsection (a); and

(4) Substance abuse assessments for alcohol or drug dependence as a covered benefit under this section for a child facing disciplinary action under section 302A-1134.6 shall be provided by a qualified physician, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, advanced practice registered nurse, or certified substance abuse counselor. The certified substance abuse counselor shall be employed by a hospital or nonhospital facility providing substance abuse services. The substance abuse assessment shall evaluate the suitability for substance abuse treatment and placement in an appropriate treatment setting.

(c) Mental illness benefits.

(1) Covered benefits for mental health services set forth in this subsection shall be limited to coverage for diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All mental health services shall be provided under an individualized treatment plan approved by a physician, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, licensed mental health counselor, or advanced practice registered nurse and must be reasonably expected to improve the patient's condition. An individualized treatment plan approved by a licensed clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, licensed mental health counselor, or an advanced practice registered nurse for a patient already under the care or treatment of a physician or psychologist shall be done in consultation with the physician or psychologist;

(2) In-hospital and nonhospital residential mental health services as a covered benefit under this chapter shall be provided in a hospital or a nonhospital residential facility. The services to be covered shall include those services required for licensure and accreditation, and shall be included as part of the covered in-hospital services as specified in subsection (a);

(3) Mental health partial hospitalization as a covered benefit under this chapter shall be provided by a hospital or a mental health outpatient facility. The services to be covered under this paragraph shall include those services required for licensure and accreditation and shall be included as part of the covered in-hospital services as specified in subsection (a); and

(4) Mental health outpatient services shall be a covered benefit under this chapter and shall be included as part of the covered outpatient services as specified in subsection (a). [L 1988, c 202, pt of §1, §3; am L 1994, c 111, §§2, 4; am L 1997, c 247, §3 and c 273, §3; am L 1998, c 78, §§2, 3; am L 1999, c 121, §§2, 6; am L 2000, c 243, §8(2); am L 2001, c 111, §3; am L 2002, c 167, §5 and c 239, §1; am L 2003, c 197, §3; am L 2006, c 205, §3; am L 2007, c 38, §3; am L 2008, c 206, §4]