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Bill

HB 634

AN ACT relating to coverage of mental health wellness examinations.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lindsey Burke and 1 co-sponsor

Kentucky HB 634 would require insurance plans to cover routine mental health wellness examinations with low or no out-of-pocket costs, aligning care with other preventive services.

to Banking & Insurance (H)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 634

Summary of HB 634 (2026 Regular Session, Kentucky)

Purpose and intent

HB 634 is an act relating to the coverage of mental health wellness examinations. The primary aim is to require or facilitate insurance coverage for mental health wellness checkups as part of standard health care benefits, aligning mental health preventive care with other preventive services. The bill seeks to improve access to early identification and treatment of mental health concerns by ensuring appropriate coverage for wellness-focused mental health assessments.

Key provisions and changes

  • Coverage mandate for mental health wellness examinations: The bill sets forth requirements that insurance plans provide coverage for routine mental health wellness examinations. This is intended to normalize preventive mental health assessments as part of comprehensive health coverage.
  • Scope of examinations: The wellness examinations referred to are intended to screen for common mental health conditions and risk factors, potentially including screening for depression, anxiety, and other mental health indicators during preventive visits.
  • Provider and setting requirements: The bill would specify that covered wellness examinations are performed by qualified health professionals (e.g., physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, or other eligible clinicians) within covered health plans.
  • Cost-sharing provisions: The text likely includes prohibitions or limitations on patient cost-sharing (such as copays or deductibles) for these preventive mental health screenings, consistent with protections for preventive services in other areas.
  • Conformity with existing federal guidelines: The measure may reference alignment with federal preventive service guidelines to ensure consistency with applicable laws and to maximize coverage parity.
  • Plan applicability: The bill would apply to insured plans and possibly self-funded group health plans, depending on the precise statutory language, and could include timelines for phased implementation if applicable.

Who is affected

  • Individuals with private health insurance plans regulated in Kentucky: They would gain access to covered mental health wellness examinations without or with limited out-of-pocket costs.
  • Employers offering group health plans: If the bill applies to self-funded or fully insured plans, employers would need to adjust plan documents and coverage to comply.
  • Healthcare providers: Providers performing the wellness examinations would play a key role in administering covered preventive mental health assessments.
  • Insurance issuers and third-party administrators: Plans would need to implement coverage changes, modify benefit structures, and align with any preventive service coding and reimbursement requirements.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative history:
    • Introduced in the Kentucky House on February 12, 2026.
    • Referred to the Committee on Committees (H) on February 12, 2026.
    • Subsequently sent to the Banking & Insurance Committee (H) on February 20, 2026.
  • Next steps: The bill will be reviewed, possibly amended, and voted on by the Banking & Insurance Committee, then moved to the full House for consideration. If passed, it would proceed to the Senate for similar consideration and potential amendments, followed by reconciliation and final passage before enactment.
  • Effective date: The bill’s effective date (and any staged implementation) would be specified in the final text, typically marking when the coverage requirements take effect after passage.

Notes on impact and considerations

  • The bill emphasizes preventive mental health care, potentially reducing long-term costs by promoting early detection and intervention.
  • It may necessitate changes to plan documents, network adequacy, coding, and reimbursement practices for mental health services.
  • Stakeholders, including patients, employers, insurers, and providers, will be attentive to any federal conformity provisions and any phase-in schedules.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize specific stakeholders (e.g., small businesses, individual consumers) or compare it to current Kentucky law on preventive services and mental health coverage.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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