New year brings new health laws

With the start of the new year, a range of state health laws have gone into effect. Here’s a sampling: 

• IVF insurance: Insurance companies in New York that offer group plans now have to cover at least three cycles of IVF. This includes treatment, any prescription medication, as well as freezing eggs and/or embryos. 
• Abortion-related blacklist: San Francisco is no longer doing business with 22 states that it deemed to have restrictive abortion policies. The city won’t fund travel to or contract with businesses in these states, including Alabama and Massachusetts.   
• Mental health parity: A new Connecticut law prevents insurance companies from placing more stringent limits on mental health and substance abuse services than other physical health services. Court-ordered mental health services also have to be covered by companies.