Email UpdatesThe U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury have issued the 2022 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) Report to Congress. The MHPAEA prohibits health insurance plans and insurance companies from imposing requirements and limitations that are more restrictive for mental health and substance use services and treatment than those for medical and surgical care.
Findings from the MHPAEA Report to Congress indicate that health plans and insurance companies are failing to deliver parity, and lack of parity is limiting access to mental health and substance use treatment benefits.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 amended the MHPAEA to improve enforcement and implementation, including the requirement for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury to file an annual report to Congress.
This fact sheet outlines the enforcement activities and investigations conducted by the Department of Labor (via the Employee Benefits Security Administration) and the Department of Health and Human Services (via the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) in fiscal year 2021.
For more information see:
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – 2022 MHPAEA Report to Congress press release
- U.S. Department of Labor – 2022 MHPAEA Report to Congress press release
- U.S. Department of Labor – 2022 MHPAEA Report to Congress
- U.S. Department of Labor – Fact Sheet: FY 2021 MHPAEA Enforcement
- U.S. Department of Labor – FAQS About Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Implementation and The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Part 45