White House Announces New Mental Health and Substance Use Parity Rule

On September 9, 2024, the White House released a new rule about mental healthcare parity. The rule requires health insurance plans to provide the same level of mental healthcare coverage as they do with physical healthcare coverage.

This rule aims to strengthen and clarify the 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addition Equity Act (MHPAEA). MHPAEA required parity for mental and physical healthcare, however, mental health advocates have argued that insurance companies have continued to erect barriers to mental healthcare, such as sufficient reimbursement rates for providers, lacking networks, onerous prior authorization process, and more.

The new rule notes that “any financial requirements and treatment limitations like copays, coinsurance and visit limits imposed on mental health and substance use disorder benefits can’t be more restrictive than the ones that apply to all medical and surgical benefits” (Weixel). Insurers will also be required to evaluate their use of nonquantitative treatment limitations (like prior authorizations and step therapy) to ensure they aren’t more restrictive for mental healthcare than physical healthcare. Additionally, nonfederal government health plans will now also be covered by MHPAEA.

ACA will continue monitoring this rule's implementation and provide you with key updates. We also encourage counselors to familiarize themselves with their state insurance commission, which regulates insurance within their state.

For more information or if you would like to become involved in ACA’s advocacy efforts, please contact the Government Affairs and Public Policy team at advocacy@counseling.org.