The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) is a law that requires health insurance plans to provide the same level of coverage for mental health and substance abuse services as they do for medical and surgical services.
The mental health parity and addiction equity act applies to certain health plans if they provide both medical and mental health or substance abuse services. It applies to employer-sponsored plans, individual health plans, and small group health plans offered in the group health insurance market.
Under the MHPAEA, health plans must provide the same level of coverage for mental health and substance abuse services as they do for medical and surgical services. This means that if a health plan covers mental health and substance abuse services, it must cover them at the same level as medical and surgical services. This includes things like deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximums.
The MHPAEA is enforced by the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services. If a health plan violates the law, it may be subject to fines, penalties, or other forms of enforcement action.
The MHPAEA helps to ensure that individuals with mental health and substance abuse disorders can access the care they need without facing unfair financial barriers. It also helps to reduce the stigma associated with mental health and substance abuse disorders, as it shows that these disorders are just as important as physical health conditions.