A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning insurance.
Summary
HB 1134 amends Indiana insurance law to expand and clarify the definition of “treatment of a mental illness or substance abuse” for certain parity-related insurance provisions. The bill applies to both accident and sickness policies and individual or group contracts that cover mental health or substance use treatment. It specifies that covered treatment includes services provided by certain associate-level licensed professionals and interns or trainees pursuing relevant clinical training, regardless of whether they are in-network.
The bill requires insurers to file annual reports with the Indiana Department of Insurance describing how they develop or select medical necessity criteria for mental health/substance use benefits and for other medical or surgical benefits. It also requires insurers to identify all nonquantitative treatment limitations (NQTLs) applied to those benefits and to submit a compliance analysis showing that mental health and substance use restrictions are comparable to, and no more stringent than, restrictions applied to other medical or surgical care. The department is directed to adopt rules to enforce compliance. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
Impact
HB 1134 would amend IC 27-8-5-15.8 and IC 27-13-7-14.2 to strengthen state-level enforcement of mental health parity requirements in insurance coverage. It increases reporting obligations for insurers and contracts that cover mental health or substance use services, and it gives the Department of Insurance additional oversight authority through required annual submissions and rulemaking. The bill primarily affects insurers, health plans, and policyholders seeking mental health or substance use disorder treatment, especially by broadening the range of providers whose services are recognized under the parity framework.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears supportive of stronger mental health and substance use coverage protections. The bill is framed as a parity and compliance measure rather than a benefit expansion, suggesting a policy goal of ensuring equal treatment between behavioral health and other medical care. No recorded opposition or amendments are shown in the provided context.
Contention
The main likely point of contention is the administrative and compliance burden placed on insurers, who must prepare annual reports and detailed comparative analyses of nonquantitative treatment limitations. Another possible issue is the bill’s prohibition on separate NQTLs for mental health and substance use benefits that do not also apply to medical or surgical benefits, which could limit insurer discretion in utilization management, network design, or medical necessity review. Supporters would likely emphasize parity enforcement and broader access to care, while insurers may focus on cost, operational complexity, and regulatory burden.
A bill for an act establishing a veterans recovery pilot program and fund for the reimbursement of expenses related to providing hyperbaric oxygen treatment to eligible veterans and making appropriations.(Formerly HF 326.)
A bill for an act establishing a veterans recovery pilot program and fund for the reimbursement of expenses related to providing hyperbaric oxygen treatment to eligible veterans and making appropriations.(See HF 518.)