(a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2)    “Alcohol misuse” has the meaning stated in § 8–101 of the Health – General Article.

(3)    “ASAM criteria” means the most recent edition of the American Society of Addiction Medicine treatment criteria for addictive, substance–related, and co–occurring conditions that establishes guidelines for placement, continued stay and transfer or discharge of patients with addiction and co–occurring conditions.

(4)    “Drug misuse” has the meaning stated in § 8–101 of the Health – General Article.

(5)    “Grandfathered health plan coverage” has the meaning stated in 45 C.F.R. § 147.140.

(6)    “Health benefit plan” means:

(i)    for a group or blanket plan, a health benefit plan as defined in § 15–1401 of this title;

(ii)    for an individual plan, a health benefit plan as defined in § 15–1301(l) of this title; or

(iii)    short–term limited duration insurance as defined in § 15–1301(s) of this title.

(7)    “Managed care system” means a system of cost containment methods that a carrier uses to review and preauthorize a treatment plan developed by a health care provider for a covered individual in order to control utilization, quality, and claims.

(8)    “Partial hospitalization” means the provision of medically directed intensive or intermediate short–term treatment:

(i)    to an insured, subscriber, or member;

(ii)    in a licensed or certified facility or program;

(iii)    for mental illness, emotional disorders, drug misuse, or alcohol misuse; and

(iv)    for a period of less than 24 hours but more than 4 hours in a day.

(9)    “Small employer” has the meaning stated in § 31–101 of this article.

(b)    With the exception of small employer grandfathered health plan coverage, this section applies to each individual, group, and blanket health benefit plan that is delivered or issued for delivery in the State by an insurer, a nonprofit health service plan, or a health maintenance organization.

(c)    A health benefit plan subject to this section shall provide at least the following benefits for the diagnosis and treatment of a mental illness, emotional disorder, drug use disorder, or alcohol use disorder:

(1)    inpatient benefits for services provided in a licensed or certified facility, including hospital inpatient and residential treatment center benefits;

(2)    partial hospitalization benefits; and

(3)    outpatient and intensive outpatient benefits, including all office visits, diagnostic evaluation, opioid treatment services, medication evaluation and management, and psychological and neuropsychological testing for diagnostic purposes.

(d)    (1)    The benefits under this section are required only for expenses arising from the treatment of mental illnesses, emotional disorders, drug misuse, or alcohol misuse if, in the professional judgment of health care providers:

(i)    the mental illness, emotional disorder, drug misuse, or alcohol misuse is treatable; and

(ii)    the treatment is medically necessary.

(2)    The benefits required under this section:

(i)    shall be provided as one set of benefits covering mental illnesses, emotional disorders, drug misuse, and alcohol misuse;

(ii)    shall comply with 45 C.F.R. § 146.136(a) through (d) and 29 C.F.R. § 2590.712(a) through (d);

(iii)    subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, may be delivered under a managed care system; and

(iv)    for partial hospitalization under subsection (c)(2) of this section, may not be less than 60 days.

(3)    The benefits required under this section may be delivered under a managed care system only if the benefits for physical illnesses covered under the health benefit plan are delivered under a managed care system.

(4)    The processes, strategies, evidentiary standards, or other factors used to manage the benefits required under this section must be comparable as written and in operation to, and applied no more stringently than, the processes, strategies, evidentiary standards, or other factors used to manage the benefits for physical illnesses covered under the health benefit plan.

(5)    An insurer, nonprofit health service plan, or health maintenance organization shall use the ASAM criteria for all medical necessity and utilization management determinations for substance use disorder benefits.

(e)    An entity that issues or delivers a health benefit plan subject to this section shall provide on its website and annually in print to its insureds or members:

(1)    notice about the benefits required under this section and the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act; and

(2)    notice that the insured or member may contact the Administration for further information about the benefits.

(f)    An entity that issues or delivers a health benefit plan subject to this section shall:

(1)    post a release of information authorization form on its website; and

(2)    provide a release of information authorization form by standard mail within 10 business days after a request for the form is received.