Mintz Levin Explains Mental Health Parity Final Regulations

In "Final Regulations Issued under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008", Alden Bianchi of Mintz Levin explains:

"On November 13, 2013, the Departments of the Treasury, Labor and Health and Human Services (the “Departments”) issued final regulations under the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). MHPAEA expanded previous federal mental health parity requirements to require that the conditions of coverage for behavioral health, in terms of the limitations placed on treatment and cost-sharing requirements, be no more restrictive than for coverage of medical and surgical benefits. The final regulations, which take effect for plan years commencing on and after January 1, 2014, impose standards for mental health or substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits that will affect most group health plans and health insurance issuers in the group insurance market and — as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the “Affordable Care Act”) — qualified health plans (i.e., plans designated as “bronze,” “silver,” “gold,” and “platinum” marketed through public insurance exchanges), Medicaid non-managed care benchmark and benchmark-equivalent plans, and plans offered in the individual insurance market."

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