The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 requires group health plans that cover more than 50 workers to have mental health and substance use disorders coverage on par with coverage for physical ailments if those plans offer mental health and substance use disorder coverage.
But, like many laws affecting employee benefit plans, its not an easy one for employers to navigate. The American Psychiatric Foundation and its Partnership for Workplace Mental Health this week released an updated version of the
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The employer guide is designed to help employers assure compliance with the law by their health plan vendors. Employers are liable for noncompliance with the law and subject to potentially significant penalties as high as $100 per member per day of noncompliance. The mental health parity law affects an estimated 113 million people, including 82 million enrolled in self-insured health plans.
The guide, which can be downloaded at
Employers will find this guide a valuable tool in navigating the requirements of federal law relating to mental health parity, says Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A., APF chairman. But more importantly, the guide will help employers ensure their employees are getting the mental health care they need.
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The guide was prepared by Milliman, Inc. in conjunction with the American Psychiatric Association and the Partnership for Workplace Mental Health.
