Senate Study Bill 3069 - Introduced SENATE FILE _____ BY (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS BILL BY CHAIRPERSON HORN) A BILL FOR An Act requiring that certain group health insurance coverage 1 for veterans include treatment for military sexual trauma 2 and suicidal tendencies, and including applicability date 3 provisions. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 5952XC (1) 86 av/nh

S.F. _____ Section 1. Section 514C.27, subsection 3, paragraph a, Code 1 2016, is amended to read as follows: 2 a. “Mental illness” means mental disorders as defined 3 by the commissioner by rule. For purposes of this section, 4 “mental illness” includes “military sexual trauma” and “suicidal 5 tendencies” as defined in this section and by the commissioner 6 by rule. 7 Sec. 2. Section 514C.27, subsection 3, Code 2016, is amended 8 by adding the following new paragraphs: 9 NEW PARAGRAPH . 0b. “Military sexual trauma” means 10 psychological trauma, which in the judgment of a mental health 11 professional, resulted from a physical assault of a sexual 12 nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment 13 which occurred while the insured who is a veteran was serving 14 on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty 15 training. 16 NEW PARAGRAPH . 00b. “Sexual harassment” means repeated, 17 unsolicited verbal or physical contact of a sexual nature which 18 is threatening in character. 19 NEW PARAGRAPH . 0c. “Suicidal tendencies” means the actual 20 act of attempted suicide or tendencies, in the judgment of a 21 mental health professional, that an insured who is a veteran 22 may have or has the inclination to take the insured’s own life. 23 Sec. 3. Section 514C.27, subsection 4, Code 2016, is amended 24 to read as follows: 25 4. a. The commissioner, by rule, shall define “mental 26 illness” consistent with definitions provided in the most recent 27 edition of the American psychiatric association’s diagnostic 28 and statistical manual of mental disorders, as the definitions 29 may be amended from time to time. The commissioner may adopt 30 the definitions provided in such manual by reference. 31 b. The commissioner, by rule, shall define “mental illness” 32 to include “military sexual trauma” and “suicidal tendencies” as 33 defined in subsection 3 and consistent with 38 U.S.C. §1720D. 34 Sec. 4. Section 514C.27, Code 2016, is amended by adding the 35 -1- LSB 5952XC (1) 86 av/nh 1/ 2

S.F. _____ following new subsection: 1 NEW SUBSECTION . 4A. Coverage benefits for the treatment of 2 military sexual trauma or suicidal tendencies for an insured 3 who is a veteran shall include medical and counseling services, 4 including suicide prevention services. 5 Sec. 5. APPLICABILITY. This Act applies to third-party 6 payment provider policies or contracts and to plans established 7 pursuant to chapter 509A delivered, issued for delivery, 8 continued, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 9 2017. 10 EXPLANATION 11 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 12 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 13 This bill requires that specified group health insurance 14 policies, contracts, or plans must provide treatment of 15 mental illness to insured veterans that includes treatment and 16 counseling for military sexual trauma that occurred while the 17 insured veteran was serving and for suicidal tendencies of 18 the insured veteran. The coverage must include medical and 19 counseling services, including suicide prevention services. 20 The bill applies to policies or contracts issued to an 21 employer that employs more than 50 full-time equivalent 22 employees, to policies or contracts issued to small employers 23 employing one to 50 employees if the policy or contract 24 includes coverage of mental illness, and to plans established 25 pursuant to Code chapter 509A for public employees. The bill 26 applies to such policies, contracts, or plans delivered, issued 27 for delivery, continued, or renewed in this state on or after 28 January 1, 2017. 29 -2- LSB 5952XC (1) 86 av/nh 2/ 2