Section 10144.53 - Disability insurance policies required to provide coverage for medically necessary treatment of mental health and substance use disorders; coverage; requirements; definitions(a)(1) A disability insurance policy issued, amended, renewed, or delivered on or after January 1, 2024, that is required to provide coverage for medically necessary treatment of mental health and substance use disorders pursuant to Sections 10144.5, 10144.51, and 10144.52 shall cover the provision of the services identified in the fee-for-service reimbursement schedule published by the State Department of Health Care Services, as described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (c), when those services are delivered at schoolsites pursuant to this section, regardless of the network status of the local educational agency, institution of higher education, or health care provider.(2) This section does not relieve a local educational agency or institution of higher education from requirements to accommodate or provide services to students with disabilities pursuant to any applicable state and federal law, including, but not limited to, the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.), Part 30 (commencing with Section 56000) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, Chapter 26.5 (commencing with Section 7570) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 3000) of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.(b) The following definitions apply for purposes of this section: (1) "Health care provider" has the same meaning as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 10144.5 and paragraph (5) of subdivision (c) of Section 10144.51.(2) "Institution of higher education" means the California Community Colleges, the California State University, or the University of California.(3) "Local educational agency" means a school district, county office of education, charter school, the California Schools for the Deaf, and the California School for the Blind.(4) "Medically necessary treatment of a mental health or substance use disorder" has the same meaning as defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 10144.5.(5) "Mental health and substance use disorders" has the same meaning as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 10144.5.(6) "Schoolsite" means a facility or location used for public kindergarten, elementary, secondary, or postsecondary purposes. "Schoolsite" also includes a location not owned or operated by a public school, or public school district if the school or school district provides or arranges for the provision of medically necessary treatment of a mental health or substance use disorder to its students at that location, including off-campus clinics, mobile counseling services, and similar locations.(7) "Utilization review" has the same meaning as defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (f) of Section 10144.52.(c) If a local educational agency or institution of higher education provides or arranges for the provision of treatment of a mental health or substance use disorder services subject to this section by a health care provider at a schoolsite for an individual 25 years of age or younger, the student's disability insurer shall reimburse the local educational agency or institution of higher education for those services. (1) A disability insurer shall not require prior authorization for services provided pursuant to this section.(2) A disability insurer may conduct a postclaim review to determine appropriate payment of the claim. Payment for services subject to this section may be denied only if the disability insurer reasonably determines that the services were provided to a student not covered by the insurer, were never performed, or were not provided by a health care provider appropriately licensed or authorized to provide the services.(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a disability insurer may require prior authorization for services as authorized by the commissioner, pursuant to subdivision (d).(4) A local educational agency, community college district, the California State University system, or the Regents of the University of California may consolidate claims for purposes of submission to a disability insurer.(5) A disability insurer shall provide reimbursement for services provided to students pursuant to this section at the greater of either of the following amounts:(A) The disability insurer's contracted rate with the local educational agency, institution of higher education, or health care provider, if any.(B) The fee-for-service reimbursement rate published by the State Department of Health Care Services for the same or similar services provided in an outpatient setting, pursuant to Section 5961.4 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.(6) A disability insurer shall provide reimbursement for services provided pursuant to this section in compliance with the requirements for timely payment of claims as required by this chapter.(7) Services provided pursuant to this section shall not be subject to copayment, coinsurance, deductible, or any other form of cost sharing.(8) An individual or entity shall not bill the policyholder or insured, nor seek reimbursement from the policyholder or insured, for services provided pursuant to this section.(d) The commissioner shall issue guidance to disability insurers regarding compliance with this section, as well as requirements necessary to comply with Section 5961.4 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. This guidance shall not be subject to the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). Guidance issued pursuant to this subdivision shall be effective only until the commissioner adopts regulations pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act.Amended by Stats 2024 ch 999 (AB 177),s 4, eff. 9/30/2024.Added by Stats 2021 ch 143 (AB 133),s 342, eff. 7/27/2021.