Understanding the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act: How it Helps Those in Need
The issue of mental health and addiction has always been a critical one in our society. However, for a long time, the treatment of such illnesses was not on par with the care provided to physical ailments. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 was put in place to address this imbalance, and ensure that those who needed help with mental health and addiction were given the same level of care as those with physical ailments.
What is the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act?
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) is a federal law that requires group health plans and insurance companies to provide the same level of coverage for mental health and substance use disorders as they do for medical and surgical care. The law was put in place to prevent discrimination against individuals with mental health and addiction issues and ensure that they could access the care they needed without any financial or coverage limitations.
How does MHPAEA Help?
MHPAEA helps those in need by making mental health and substance use disorder treatments more accessible and affordable. Under this law, insurance plans cannot impose higher financial requirements such as co-payments, coinsurance, or deductibles for mental health and substance use disorder treatment than what is required for medical and surgical care. In other words, insurers cannot treat mental health and substance use disorders as if they are not part of the same category of illnesses as physical health conditions.
Furthermore, MHPAEA requires insurers to provide treatment at a level that is at par with the standard medical treatment. This includes providing access to inpatient and outpatient treatment, as well as medication assisted treatments and behavioral therapy. This helps those with mental health issues and addiction disorders to receive the appropriate level of care and improves their chances of recovery.
Who does MHPAEA Cover?
MHPAEA applies to group health plans provided by employers and individual policies from insurance companies. It covers millions of Americans and is believed to have greatly expanded insurance coverage for mental health and substance use disorder treatments.
However, not all plans are required to comply with MHPAEA. For example, it does not apply to plans offered by small employers with fewer than 50 employees. It is also not applicable to Medicaid, except in the case of optional expansion programs.
Conclusion
MHPAEA has been instrumental in addressing the unequal treatment of mental health and substance use disorders compared to physical health issues. The law ensures that individuals facing mental health and addiction disorders have access to appropriate treatment without limitations on coverage or cost-sharing. The law has been a positive step in creating a fair healthcare system and promoting better mental health outcomes for all.
