Community Guidance Center Director Kevin Villagomez, rght, shakes hands with Rep. Vincent “Kobre” Aldan during a break from a House session on Friday.
Rep. Malcom T. Omar, the author of House Bill 23-47, attends a House session on Friday.
THE House of Representatives on Friday passed House Bill 23-47 which would establish parity in coverage and payment for mental health services.
All the 18 members present voted to pass H.B. 23-47, authored by Rep. Malcom J. Omar.
House Floor Leader Edwin Propst and Rep. Thomas J. Manglona were excused.
The bill, which now goes to the Senate, aims to ensure that the public can afford tele-mental health services by requiring a private payer, Medicaid or other government plan or policy to provide coverage.
H.B. 23-47 would also prohibit health insurance issuers from denying coverage for mental or behavioral health services on the basis that the services are provided through tele-health.
In his testimony during a House session, Community Guidance Center Director Kevin Villagomez said by establishing parity in coverage and reimbursement, H.B. 23-47 would ensure that mental health services offered through tele-health are recognized “as a vital component of the mental health care continuum, enabling patients to receive the care they need in a manner that suits their circumstances.”
Villagomez said through parity in coverage, “we can encourage more individuals to seek the care they need, and more providers to serve our community, ultimately leading to a healthier and more resilient CNMI.”
