Representatives White, Salvo Introduce Bill to Require Coverage of Annual Behavior Health Well Checks

COLUMBUS—State Representatives Andrea White (R-Kettering) and Jodi Salvo (R-Bolivar) this week provided sponsor testimony before the House Insurance Committee on recently-introduced legislation requiring health benefit plans to cover annual behavioral health wellness checks for children and adults in Ohio, helping reduce barriers to care and prioritizing the importance of behavioral health.

Under House Bill 724, covered visits will include behavioral health screenings, review of risk and protective factors, education on healthy lifestyle changes, referrals to services when appropriate, and connection to additional support.  These screenings could be conducted by either a licensed behavioral health professional or medical provider already serving individuals in their communities.  This includes physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and chemical dependency counselors.

“House Bill 724 is another step toward treating mental health with the same seriousness, consistency, and preventative focus as physical health,” said White. “Our life experiences and data on education, employment, poverty, addiction and incarceration rates all lead us to an undisputed fact.  Prevention, early identification and treatment yield tremendous human and cost benefits for our families and our communities.”

“The goal of this legislation is simple: normalize behavioral health care in the same way we normalize physical health care,” said Salvo.  “This bill recognizes that individuals do not need to be in crisis to benefit from behavioral health support. Early screenings and conversations can identify concerns before they escalate into emergencies.

This legislation is a result of the Mental Health Insurance Working Group, established in January of 2023 through an executive order and led by the Ohio Department of Insurance. 

House Bill 724 awaits further consideration from the House Insurance Committee.