Press Release
☷READOUT Secretary Walsh Secretary Becerra host health insurance business leaders to discuss mental health substance use disorder parity | U S Department of Labor
U.S. Department of Labor ( By Press Release office)
May 04,2022
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READOUT: Secretary Walsh , Secretary Becerra host health insurance , business leaders to discuss mental health , substance use disorder parity WASHINGTON – U . S . Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and U . S . Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra met with health insurance and business leaders on May 3 to discuss compliance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act , adequacy of in - network providers and mental health and substance use disorder treatment during the pandemic , as the nation observes Mental Health Awareness Month . MHPAEA is a federal law that , in general , requires health insurance providers to cover mental health and substance use disorder benefits the same way they cover medical or surgical health benefits . The President’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget supports his whole - of - government strategy to transform mental health services for all Americans . This collaboration between the departments of Labor and Health and Human Services is part of the President’s Unity Agenda and the Biden - Harris administration’s commitment to addressing the nation’s behavioral health crises and strengthening mental health of all Americans . “Since the start of the Biden - Harris administration , enforcement of mental health and substance use disorder parity laws has been one of the Department of Labor’s top priorities , ” said U . S . Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh . “Group health plans and insurers must be able to show us that they are providing mental health treatment coverage the way the law requires . We are grateful to have had this earnest conversation , and look forward to learning more about the work health plans and insurers are doing to achieve parity and increase access to care . ”“Without true parity for mental and behavioral health services , we have no hope of transforming mental health and helping to reduce stigma and increase access to care , ” said U . S . Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra . “Parity in mental and behavioral health services is a basic right . It’s a right I have long fought for in my career , and now as HHS Secretary where across my department and in partnership with my colleagues , I am committed to aggressively advancing . ” The Secretaries met with industry leaders in a constructive dialogue , with commitments from attendees to continue to engage on these critical issues . They also raised the importance of contraceptive coverage and the need to do more to ensure women and families get this essential care . Secretary Walsh and Secretary Becerra were joined at yesterday’s event by representatives of the American Benefits Council , America’s Health Insurance Plans , the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness , Beacon Health Options , the BlueCross BlueShield Association , Cigna Corp . , the HR Policy Association , the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions , the National Business Group on Health , the National Coordinating Committee for Multiemployer Plans , the United Health Group and the U . S . Chamber of Commerce .
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