By LORRAINE SIMPKINS
The Joint Labor-Management Committees on Health Benefits (JLMC) have completed reviewing proposals submitted by HMOs for participation in the state Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP).

Univera Healthcare, which currently serves six counties in western New York, decided to discontinue its community-rated HMO and will not participate in NYSHIP next year. If you are enrolled in this option, you will need to change health plans during the option-transfer period for 2010. That window will open later this year.

All of the other HMOs currently participating in NYSHIP will be available in 2010.

MVP will expand its service area to include Tompkins County.

Effective January 1, all NYSHIP HMOs will change their benefits for the treatment of mental health and substance abuse disorders to comply with a new federal parity law.

The law requires benefits for the treatment of mental health and substance abuse disorders to equal the benefits for other medical services. Co-pays and deductibles cannot be greater than for other services.

Nor can the allowed frequency of treatment, number of visits, or days of coverage be more restrictive than those for treatment of other medical conditions.

If you are enrolled in an HMO, it will send you a side-by-side benefit comparison no later than October 23, notifying you of all benefit changes for the year 2010.

Premium rate information for 2010 is not available yet, but will be mailed when the transfer period begins.

Review the rate flyer carefully when you receive it. HMO premium contributions may increase significantly from one year to the next.