HB344 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

H. Mac Gipson

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Marriage and family therapy, insurance companies, health maintenance organizations, and health benefit plans required to provide coverage, Secs. 10-4-115, 27-21A-23 am'd.

Summary

HB344 would require Alabama health benefit plans to cover marriage and family therapy.

What This Bill Does

It requires all health benefit plans issued or renewed in Alabama to include coverage for marriage and family therapy and to disclose the associated costs. Coverage would follow the plan’s existing deductibles and coinsurance, and private payors may not reduce or eliminate this coverage because of the bill. The bill also prevents plans from terminating services, reducing payments to providers, or penalizing providers who order care in line with the act, and it clarifies that the requirement does not expand the list of covered providers. Self-funded plans may be exempt from these requirements.

Who It Affects

• Health benefit plans, insurers, HMOs, and other plan sponsors in Alabama — must add marriage and family therapy coverage and follow the new rules.
• Policyholders and beneficiaries (individuals and families) — will gain coverage for marriage and family therapy under their plans.
• Health care providers delivering marriage and family therapy — may bill for and be protected when ordering care that complies with the act.
• Self-funded (self-insured) plans — generally exempt from these specific coverage requirements.

Key Provisions

• Section 2: All health benefit plans must offer coverage for marriage and family therapy, with costs identified.
• Section 3(a): Benefits must use the same annual deductible or coinsurance as other covered benefits; private third-party payors cannot reduce or eliminate this coverage.
• Section 3(b): Health benefit plans shall not terminate services, reduce capitation payments, or penalize providers for orders of medical care that comply with this act.
• Section 3(c): The act does not expand the list of designated covered providers.
• Section 4: Amends Sections 10-4-115 and 27-21A-23 to require health insurers and plans to comply with various existing standards and laws (premium tax, nondiscrimination, Medicare/LTC standards, timely payment, eye care access, colorectal cancer screening, prostate cancer early detection, chiropractic coverage, and marriage and family therapy), with a specific exemption for self-funded plans in subsection related to these requirements, and clarifies administration under self-funded arrangements.
• Section 5: The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it passes and is approved.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Insurance