An online article in The Atlantic notes that the federal law that requires group health insurance plans that offer coverage for mental illness and substance use disorders to provide those benefits in no more restrictive way than all other treatments, was signed into law almost five years ago. But significant hurdles are preventing it from taking effect. Final rules for the act have not yet been adopted and it is not clear when they will be.
According to the article, the major issues include (1) which specific mental health and substance abuse services must be covered by an employer who offers these benefits, (2) whether the law applies to medical management strategies that insurers use to decide whether services are necessary and assemble provider networks, and (3) how the law will be enforced.
Beginning next year, the parity law's reach will become even broader. At that time, 32.1 million people, including those who newly enroll in state Medicaid programs and those who purchase healthcare coverage through exchanges will start to gain mental health coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Mental health parity will be required for all insurance policies of this kind, including those already in force.
