09/08/2009
Mental Health Parity brings benefit changes
Last month we notified you that the Mental Health Parity Act of 2008 and other recent changes will be effective this October.
The Mental Health Parity Act impacts renewals and new sales and requires that group health carriers apply to mental health and substance abuse benefits the same treatment and financial limits that are applied to medical and surgical benefits.
The following change applies to all large groups (of 51 or more in size), including ASO and church groups:
- Inpatient and outpatient visit and day limits have been removed from the mental health disorders benefit.
- The chemical dependency benefit annual maximum has been removed.
Small-group medical plans (groups of 1-50), Individual products, government programs (Medicaid, Medicare and FEP) are not subject to these changes. Additionally, any self-funded non-federal government groups, such as school districts, city groups and county groups, are also exempt from the law.
If you have any questions, please talk to your Regence Sales contact.
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