Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB905

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/30/25
• Refer: 6/30/25

Caption

In regulation of insurers and related persons generally, providing for addiction treatment services information collection and reporting.

Impact

If enacted, SB 905 would impose new reporting obligations on insurers concerning the addiction treatment services they provide. Insurers would be required to submit annual reports detailing various metrics, including the number of insureds receiving addiction treatment, the types of treatment settings used, and the number of adverse benefit determinations made. This change reflects a legislative effort to ensure accountability among insurers and promote better health outcomes for individuals struggling with addiction. Furthermore, the bill supports alignment with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which mandates equal treatment for mental health and addiction services compared to physical health services.

Summary

Senate Bill 905 seeks to amend Title 40 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to introduce a new chapter dedicated to the collection and reporting of information regarding addiction treatment services. The bill outlines a framework to ensure that insurers report statistics on addiction treatment services provided under health plans, thereby enhancing transparency and compliance with both state and federal regulations regarding mental health and addiction services. It aims to create a structured approach for monitoring addiction treatment data, which is crucial for assessing the effectiveness of health insurance coverage for such services.

Sentiment

The sentiment around SB 905 appears to be supportive, particularly among advocates for addiction treatment and mental health equity. Supporters argue that improving data collection and transparency will help better understand the addiction-related challenges faced by patients and contribute towards policy improvements in the field. However, there may be concerns regarding the administrative burden this bill could impose on insurers, as they may need to adjust internal processes to comply with the new reporting requirements.

Contention

Notable points of contention may arise regarding confidentiality and the oversight of reporting practices. Insurers are mandated to keep identifying information confidential when reporting to the state, which is crucial to protect the privacy of individuals receiving treatment. Nevertheless, discussions may center around how effectively these confidentiality measures can be implemented while ensuring comprehensive data reporting. Additionally, there might be discussions about the adequacy of resources allocated to the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs to handle the increased workload resulting from the new reporting responsibilities.