CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–January 5, 2011. In 2008, Congress passed and then-President George W. Bush signed into law the Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (“MHPAEA” or “Wellstone-Domenici”), which provides “parity,” or equivalence, of coverage for mental health or substance use disorder benefits and coverage for medical or surgical benefits. Group health plans subject to the MHPAEA that cover mental health and substance use disorder benefits along with standard medical and surgical coverage must treat equally out-of-pocket costs, benefit limits, and practices such as prior authorization and utilization review. The MHPAEA became effective for health plan years beginning on or after October 3, 2009.
