Public Education on Mental Health Parity Law (posted 1/04)

This January 1st the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act that enforces behavioral health parity became fully effective.  Mental Health America is calling for public education campaigns to help Americans become aware of their rights under this new law.  The law, which Congress passed in October of 2008, broadly outlaws health insurance discrimination against Americans with mental health and substance use conditions in employer-sponsored health plans. It bans employers and insurers from imposing stricter limits on coverage for mental health and substance use conditions than those set for other medical conditions. The law benefits 82 million Americans covered by self-insured plans and another 31 million in plans that are subject to state regulation. For background information on this law click here. To read Mental Health America's call for public education campaigns click here.

To watch a video of President and CEO of Mental Health America, Dr. Shern talking about mental health parity on C-SPAN click here.

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