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Among the mental health community, an important right was established in 2008 with the passing of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). This law made it clear that insurers cannot discriminate against patients with a mental illness, including a substance use disorder.
However, the MHPAEA can be truly effective only if it is properly enforced, and to that end, APA created a poster to help educate patients about mental health parity and their rights under the MHPAEA.
Titled “Fair Insurance Coverage: It’s the Law,” this poster clearly and simply explains the 10 key elements of the law and the steps to take when a violation is suspected.
APA hopes its members and partners join in the effort to protect mental health patients and ensure that all insurers play by the rules. Physicians and therapists should print a copy and post it their office or waiting room, and any other interested parties are likewise encouraged to display the poster in their workplace and/or share the link. Patients and members of the public are invited to download and review the poster as well. Subscribers of Psychiatric News will find a color copy of the poster in the December 5 print edition of the paper.
Learn more about the MHPAEA and find resources related to the law here.
To read APA President Paul Summergrad’s column on this subject, see the Psychiatric News article “Parity Enforcement: A Top Priority.”
(Image: Michelle Holland)