Please contact your Congressperson and Senator to support 2 major Mental Health Parity Laws that directly impact your practice and your patients. Please read below to find out more about the 2 pieces of proposed federal legislation that would guarantee insurers provide equal coverage for mental health and tele-mental health services with equal costs to beneficiaries as physical medical care.
Health Assets supports the passage of these two major pieces of proposed federal legislation:
- The Parity Enforcement Act of 2021, which is currently proposed in the House. This proposed legislation empowers the Dept. of Labor to investigate and issue civil fines against health insurers and health plan sponsors that violate parity.
Here is a summary of the bill: Parity Enforcement Act of 2021 -one-pager.pdf (house.gov)
Text of the bill: Text – H.R.1364 – 117th Congress (2021-2022): Parity Enforcement Act of 2021 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
- The Tele-Mental Health Improvement Act, which is currently proposed in the Senate. This proposed law would, among other things, require employer-sponsored health plans to cover telehealth services for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder at the same level and reimbursement as in-person care.
Here is a summary of the bill: 06.26.20 Tele-Mental Health Improvement Act_One Pager.pdf (senate.gov)
Text of the bill: Text – S.660 – 117th Congress (2021-2022): Tele-Mental Health Improvement Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
You can support these bills by calling your Congressperson and Senator as well as support your professional organization’s (such as the APA, NYSPA, NASW and ASAM) efforts to help them pass.
We believe in the work that you do and want to see you reimbursed at an equitable rate and assure that your patients have coverage for the care they need.
As always, we are here to support you and your patients.
Carmel L Gold, LCSW
Advisor
Health Assets Management, LLC