10/07/2025

OPPA testifies on House Bill 219 - network adequacy by insurance plans

OPPA President Nita Bhatt, MD, submitted proponent testimony to members of the Ohio House Insurance Committee on House Bill 219, legislation that would require each health plan issuer to maintain an adequate network of physicians and other providers. The bill aims to ensure patients have access to a sufficient number and range of specialists, allowing them to obtain covered services without unreasonable travel or delay.

Dr. Bhatt stated: 

Many Ohioans have health insurance coverage that includes treatment for mental illnesses and substance use disorder, however, they are not able to access care because they are unable to find a psychiatrist or other mental health clinicians because there are simply not enough providers who participate on the panels or the directories of participating providers is not accurate. Too often, psychiatrists are listed in the directories who are not actually a part of the panel, or they provide only inpatient care – not outpatient care for office visits, psychotherapy, etc.

For patients to have access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment, health insurers must not only provide coverage for the full spectrum of these services but must also offer a robust network of providers to deliver them. Limited insurance networks often make it much more difficult and less affordable for patients to get treatment, forcing them to travel long distances, or to pay higher costs to seek the care they need out-of-network. In fact, The National Alliance on Mental Illness reported this year that Ohioans were 1.5 times more likely to be forced out-of-network for mental health care than for primary care.

Insufficient networks may also cause vulnerable patients to endure long waiting times to receive care or may lead to patients just forgoing their care completely. As you can imagine, for patients with mental illnesses or substance use disorders, this type of treatment delay or abandonment can be dangerous, and even life-threatening.

Dr. Bhatt testimony concluded with: 

OPPA believes that HB 219 is a reasonable way to improve access to quality mental health and substance use disorder treatments in our state. We encourage members of the House Insurance Committee to support this bill so that more Ohioans can receive treatment. Thank you for your consideration of our comments on this legislation. Please contact us so that we can address any questions.