Mental health and substance use: state and federal oversight of compliance with parity requirements varies : report to Congressional committees
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Contributor(s):
- United States. Government Accountability Office. issuing body. United States. Congress. issuing body.
- Publication:
- Washington, DC : United States Government Accountability Office, December 2019
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Drug Users -- legislation & jurisprudence Government Regulation Healthcare Disparities -- legislation & jurisprudence Mental Health Services -- legislation & jurisprudence Substance-Related Disorders United States United States. Department of Health and Human Services United States.
- Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- Why GAO did this study. MHPAEA requires large group health plans that offer MH/SU benefits to ensure parity between MH/SU and medical/surgical benefits. To meet the essential health benefits requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, certain issuers offering small group and individual plans must comply with MHPAEA’s MH/SU parity requirements. The 21st Century Cures Act included a provision for GAO to review federal and state oversight of MH/SU parity requirements and the extent to which health plans comply with these requirements. This report, among other objectives, (1) examines how DOL, HHS, and states oversee health plan compliance with MH/SU parity requirements; and (2) describes what is known about the extent to which health plans are complying with MH/SU parity requirements. For this report, GAO reviewed DOL and HHS policies, guidance, and reports; conducted a survey and received responses from all 50 states and the District of Columbia about oversight practices; interviewed officials from DOL, HHS, and selected states; interviewed national and state stakeholders; and reviewed available research studies regarding health plan compliance with MH/SU parity. What GAO recommends. GAO is recommending that DOL and HHS evaluate whether relying on targeted oversight is effective for ensuring compliance with MH/SU parity requirements or whether alternative approaches are needed. DOL and HHS concurred with GAO’s recommendations.
- Copyright:
- The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
- Extent:
- 1 online resource (1 PDF file (iii, 61 pages))
- Illustrations:
- Illustrations
- NLM Unique ID:
- 9918284264206676 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918284264206676