§ 38a-1060 — Office of the Behavioral Health Advocate established. Duties.

(a) There is established an Office of the Behavioral Health Advocate which shall be within the Insurance Department for administrative purposes only. (b) The Office of the Behavioral Health Advocate may: (1) Assist mental and behavioral health care providers, who are licensed, certified or registered in the state, with receiving payments for claims submitted to health carriers for services provided to covered patients; (2) Assist state residents with accessing mental and behavioral health care and related resources; (3) Provide information to the public, agencies, legislators and others regarding the problems and concerns of mental and behavioral health care providers and patients and make recommendations for resolving such problems and concerns; (4) Analyze and monitor the development and implementation of federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies relating to mental and behavioral health care and recommend changes as necessary; (5) Facilitate public comment by mental and behavioral health care providers and patients on laws, regulations and policies, including, but not limited to, the policies and actions of health carriers; (6) Coordinate services with the Healthcare Advocate to assist individuals with obtaining access to and coverage for mental and behavioral health care services and to fulfill the duties set forth in subsections (e) and (g) of section 38a-1041 ; (7) Ensure that mental and behavioral health care providers and patients have timely access to the services provided by the office; (8) Establish a toll-free number, or any other free calling option, to allow access to the services provided by the Behavioral Health Advocate; (9) Pursue administrative remedies on behalf of and with the consent of any mental and behavioral health care providers and patients; (10) Adopt regulations, pursuant to chapter 54, to carry out the provisions of this section; and (11) Take any other actions necessary to fulfill the purposes of this section. (c) The Office of the Behavioral Health Advocate shall make a referral to the Insurance Commissioner if the Behavioral Health Advocate finds that a health carrier may have engaged in a pattern or practice that is in violation of any provision of section 38a-476a or sections 38a-488a to 38a-489 , inclusive. (d) All state agencies shall comply with reasonable requests of the Office of the Behavioral Health Advocate for information and assistance. (e) Not later than January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the Behavioral Health Advocate shall submit, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a , to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children, public health, and insurance and real estate a report concerning the activities of the Behavioral Health Advocate. The report shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) the subject matter, disposition and number of claims processed by the Behavioral Health Advocate on behalf of mental and behavioral health care providers and patients, (2) common problems and concerns discerned by the Behavioral Health Advocate from mental and behavioral health care providers, patients or other relevant sources, and (3) the need, if any, for administrative, legislative or executive remedies to assist mental and behavioral health care providers or patients. See Sec. 4-38f for definition of “administrative purposes only”.

Legislative History

(P.A. 23-101, S. 10.) History: P.A. 23-101 effective July 1, 2023.