The coronavirus pandemic has shed light on the importance of access to mental health benefits. He also highlighted how important it is for employers to understand and follow the law that applies to mental health and addiction benefits.
The most important thing to know is that under the Mental Health Parity and Drug Equity Act, all health plans with 50 or more members must apply similar rules to mental health benefits. and addiction as they do for physical health benefits. And recent changes to the law require greater documentation for certain limits and other restrictions on mental health benefits, to ensure compliance. As a result of these changes, EBSA has committed significant new resources to ensuring compliance with the law and has strengthened its commitment to mental health parity.
If you are an employer or plan service provider and have questions about compliance with the law, you can take advantage of these helpful resources:
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Compliance Assistance webcast.On Tuesday, May 24, from 2-3 p.m. ET, join our free webcast on changes to the law in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, frequently asked questions, and other tips and tools. Get more information and register here.
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Self-compliance tool.Our online self-compliance tool includes questions and examples to help employers assess whether their plans meet federal mental health requirements. These include rules relating to coverage limits, medical management standards and prior authorization.
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Frequently Asked Questions.We’ve created a series of answers to frequently asked questions to help you understand federal law.
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Publications.You can find publications to help you understand and comply with the law on our website, including the mental health parity section in our Guide to Help Complying with Health Benefits Laws.
If you have any questions, visit our Mental Health Parity page. You can also contact EBSA benefits advisors at askebsa.dol.gov or call 1-866-444-3272.
Ali Khawar is the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Department’s Benefits Security Administration.
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