The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) requires group health plans offering mental health (MH) or substance abuse (SA) benefits to provide such benefits “in parity” with (equal to or better than) the medical/surgical coverage available under the group health plan. The MHPAEA does not require group health plans to provide MH or SA benefits, but if they do offer such benefits beyond what is considered preventive under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the parity requirements apply. This practical guide assists in understanding:
- Annual and lifetime limits
- Financial requirements and treatment limitations
- Disclosures
- Enforcement Efforts & Non-Compliance
