Parity, Coverage, & Equitable Access
The landmark 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity was intended to ensure equal coverage for mental health and substance use care. Some 15 years later, Americans continue to face parity violations and inequitable access. The following recommendations serve to help realize the full promise of parity, both through enforcement of the Federal Parity Act and through other systemic changes made to ensure appropriate health coverage and overall access to care.
Browse the Featured Recommendations
Improve Medicare coverage of peer support specialists
Congress should improve Medicare coverage of peer support specialists by allowing them to bill in a variety of settings where they are most often employed.
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Apply the federal Parity Law to all health coverage
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) should apply to all health coverage in the United States. Existing major gaps in MHPAEA’s protections include Medicare Fee-for-Service, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid Fee-for-Service, TRICARE, and the Indian Health Service (IHS).[1][2][3] Additionally, the federal government should strengthen MHPAEA’s existing protections by finalizing its proposed rule released in July 2023.
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Make mobile crisis services mandatory under Medicaid
Congress should make mobile crisis services mandatory under Medicaid. At a minimum, these services should be made a permanent state option available to states eligible for enhanced federal Medicaid match funding.[1]
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Extend Medicaid coverage to 12 months postpartum
Congress should require states to extend Medicaid coverage for 12 months postpartum.
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Expand parity compliance analysis requirements
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA 2021) amended the Federal Parity Law to explicitly require group health plans and issuers to conduct parity compliance analyses. Congress should apply these requirements to Medicaid managed care, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and alternative benefit plans.
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Expand EHR utilization in MH/SUD
Congress should pass legislation like the Behavioral Health Information Technology Coordination Act to advance adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) among mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) providers.[1][2]