Policy Issues & Resources: Parity

On October 3, 2008, President Bush signed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which included the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity & Addiction Equity Act of 2008 as an amendment. This law significantly expands upon the mental health protections of the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996. This Act will protect over 113 million people across the U.S., including 82 million individuals enrolled in ERISA group health insurance plans.

This law helps to lay the foundation for ending the unequitable provision of mental health and substance use disorder benefits compared to general health benefits. 

On Jan. 29, 2010, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury released an interim final rule (IFR) providing guidance on the implementation of the Wellstone-Domenici parity law. The National Council and other advocacy groups are working to ensure that parity is included in all levels of the healthcare reform legislation being considered by Congress.  For more information see the Healthcare Reform Webpage.

Recent News I Parity Implementation | Official Letters I Fact Sheets I Additional Resources

Recent News

• Obama Administration Releases Mental Health and Addictions Parity Guidance
• National Mental Health & Addiction Advocacy Community Issues Statement on the One Year Anniversary of the Passage of the Wellstone Domenici Parity Act; Regulations Will Be Issued by January 2010
   

Parity Implementation

Regulations providing guidance on how insurance plans should implement the Wellstone-Domenici Parity Law were issued on Jan. 29, 2010. These regulations will go into effect for plan years beginning on July 1, 2010 or later. Click here to see a top-line summary of the regulations. The National Council wants to make sure that group health plans covered by the law are complying with its requirements. If you suspect that your insurance plan is improperly restricting coverage of mental health and substance use disorder services:

• File an Official Complaint: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has set up a Help Line to answer your questions or hear your concerns about your health plan’s compliance with the law. The number for the Help Line is:1-877-267-2323 ext. 6-5511. In addition, Department of Labor benefits advisors are available to answer your questions about the parity law and provide assistance in obtaining your benefits. Call 1-866-444-3272 or use this online form.
• Share Your Concerns: We want to hear from you about whether your insurance provider is complying with the law. Your stories will help us monitor the implementation of the law and identify critical concerns or patterns across the country. Click here to send us an email about whether the parity law is working for you. In particular, we'd like to hear about any specific problems you're experiencing in getting coverage for mental health and substance use treatment, or whether your insurance plan has dropped mental health/substance use coverage that it previously offered.  

Official Letters

• Parity Comments in response to the "Request for Information" (RFI) by the National Council
• Final Coalition Comments on parity in response to the "Request for Information"
• Letter to House Leadership in Strong Support of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007
  

Fact Sheets

• Top-line Summary of Parity Regulations
• Healthcare reform and parity
• Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 

Additional Resources

• Secretary Sebelius' letters to Senator Al Franken and Representative Patrick Kennedy regarding the issuance of parity regulations
• 72 Representatives Sign on to House Letter in Support of the Timely Issuance of Parity Regulations
• Send a Thank You Note to Representatives tha Signed on to Parity Regs Letter
• 26 Senators Sign on To Senate Letter in Support of the Timely Issuance of Parity Regulations
• Thank you letter template for senators who signed onto the parity regulations letter.
• Dear Colleague Letter sent to senators requesting they sign onto a letter to the Secretaries of Departments of Labor, HHS and Treasury insisting they create regulations for parity by the October 3, 2009 deadline which incorporate the concerns of the mental health and addiction treatment community as expressed by the responses to the RFI.
• Powerpoint presentation
• Press Release on Passage of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity & Addiction Equity Act of 2008
• Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate of Federal Parity Legislation in 2007