US Government to Require Equal Coverage of Mental and Physical Health Services

A new rule set by the Biden administration will require health insurers to provide the same level of coverage for mental health care and addiction services as for other health conditions. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) already prohibits health insurers and corporate-backed group plans from imposing stricter limitations on mental health and substance use disorder benefits than on those for other health conditions. However, administration officials say insurers have been skirting that law, making it more difficult for patients to find affordable care. The new rule requires insurers to evaluate their current networks, the amount they pay out-of-network providers, and the frequency with which they require and deny prior authorization to assess their compliance with MHPAEA....