New Resources to Improve Parity Implementation in Your State
- Tips for Improving Access to Mental Health and Addiction Care by Improving State Medicaid Contracts outlines some contractual language that State Medicaid Directors should consider adding to managed care contracts. The suggested language would streamline the appeals process and clarify plan disclosure requirements.
- Tips for Providers on Negotiating Managed Care Contracts to Improve Access to Mental Health and Addiction Care is targeted to providers and outlines language that providers should consider negotiating into their managed care contracts. The suggested language would enable providers to represent their clients in a streamlined appeals process.
- Model parity legislation developed with national partners, led by Parity Track, can be used to introduce a bill in your state to address potential gaps in your current parity statute. It is comprehensive, but you can use all, or parts, depending on the needs of your state. The model legislation fact-sheet can be used to gain legislative support for a bill. It can also be modified to the specific needs and political climate of your state. If you are interested in pursuing parity legislation in your state, contact us so we can connect you to other organizations in your state who may be working on this issue.
Mental Health and Addictions Parity
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 requires health plans to offer mental health and/or substance use benefits without imposing copayments, benefit limitations and other restrictions that are more stringent than those imposed on medical/surgical benefits. Parity was also included as a central component of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA extended parity protections to the small-group and individual market, Medicaid expansion plans and plans sold through states’ health insurance marketplaces.
Between MHPAEA and the ACA, now nearly all health plans must cover behavioral health services at parity with medical/surgical treatment. Together, the ACA and MHPAEA are expected to expand access to comprehensive mental health and addiction treatment benefits to more than 62 million Americans. Final regulations pertaining to parity in commercial plans were issued in November 2013; proposed rules pertaining to Medicaid managed care and Medicaid expansion plans were issued in April 2015. For more history on parity, see the Health Affairs Policy Brief on Mental Health Parity.
Parity Enforcement
Fulfilling the promise of parity requires robust enforcement efforts at the state level. While state insurance commissioners are tasked with enforcing the law, states and advocates have pursued multiple strategies for securing insurance plan coverage that complies with parity. See below for resources and case studies on parity enforcement in the states.
- Understanding the Parity Law: Legal Action Center published a guide to the federal parity law in 2016. It breaks down health insurance requirements for addictions and mental health care.
- Overview of state activities: Health Law Advocates and Community Catalyst published a 2013 document summarizing state advocacy activities to increase parity enforcement, as responsibility for enforcing the federal law is shared between the federal and state government.
- Tracking parity activities in the states: The Kennedy Forum and the Scattergood Foundation have established ParityTrack, a website providing information on states’ parity implementation efforts. The site currently offers information on 5 states; additional states will be added over time.
- Working with state Attorneys General on parity lawsuits: This webinar, held by the National Council, provided case studies and strategies for working with State Attorneys General on lawsuits to ensure parity enforcement.
- Strategies for enforcing parity in your state: These slides, produced by the Legal Action Center, walk through the major provisions of the law and implementing regulations, and provide suggestions on how to work at the state level to develop a parity enforcement plan.
- Case studies: The Parity Implementation Coalition produced snapshots of promising parity implementation practices in New York, California, Connecticut and more recently in Washington state.
Tools to Help Consumers Navigate Parity and Health Plan Coverage
Below you will find tools to provide you with more information about the parity law and advice on how to select the health coverage that fits your needs. These documents, developed by the National Council in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, will provide you additional information to help you understand plans sold in the health insurance exchange and employer sponsored plans:
- Welcome to the New Insurance Marketplace!
- Mental Health and Substance use Parity & the Affordable Care Act: Mental Health Services in the New Health Insurance Marketplace
- Appeals and Exceptions: How to Access Behavioral Health Services in Qualified Health Plans
- Your Mental Health and Substance Use Needs and Employer-Sponsored Coverage
- Mental Health and Substance Use Parity and Your Employer-Sponsored Coverage
- Appeals and Exceptions: How to Access Behavioral Health and Substance Use Services under Employer-Sponsored Insurance Plans
Parity Appeals Toolkit
The Kennedy Forum, with the Parity Implementation Coalition, released a toolkit to help you understand your rights under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity law. The toolkit contains details on the requirements of the parity law and resources to help providers and consumers file successful appeals.
What are the most common ways your parity right could be violated? Find out here.
File an Official Complaint:
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, 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 to express your concerns about your health plan’s compliance with the law.
In the News
Visit our Capitol Connector blog to read the most recent news about Parity.
