Press Release
☷Readout Secretary Becerra Secretary Walsh Host Health Insurance Business Leaders to Discuss Mental Health Substance Use Disorder Parity
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ( By Press Release office)
May 04,2022
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WASHINGTON – U . S . Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and U . S . Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh met with health insurance and business leaders on May 3 , 2022 , 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 . 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 . 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 . 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 Becerra and Secretary Walsh 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 . Image Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra ( right ) and Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh ( left ) met with health insurance and business leaders to discuss mental health parity laws in Washington on May 3 , 2022 . The conversation focused on how group health plans and insurers can provide mental health treatment coverage in parity as required by law .
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