NACo submits comment on proposed Mental Health Parity Rule

Author

Image of Blaire-Bryant.jpg

Blaire Bryant

Legislative Director – Health | Large Urban County Caucus
Naomi Freel

Naomi Freel

Legislative Assistant

Upcoming Events

Related News

Advocacy

County Countdown – Nov. 20, 2023

Advocacy

County Countdown – Nov. 6, 2023

Doctor talking to the patient about menopause and treatment in future

Key Takeaways

On October 17, NACo submitted comments on the U.S. Department of Treasury, Labor and Health and Human Services' proposed rule to further enforce provisions under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), a sweeping mental health parity rule enacted in 2008. The rule aims to establish equitable treatment limits for mental health and substance use, in line with medical and surgical benefits.

Why counties commented on the rule:
  • Counties support ensuring mental health and substance use coverage limits are no stricter than medical and surgical benefits
  • Counties support data collection on the impact of treatment limits on access to mental health services
  • Counties support establishing rules for comparing treatment limits and detailing how plans share these analyses with departments, state authorities and participants

Additionally, NACo requested further consolidation regarding the removal of the option for self-funded non-federal government plans to opt out of MHPAEA. As written, the policy could potentially subject county health plans and governments to non-compliance penalties. 

Therefore, counties recommend the final rule:
  • Provide clear language on how third-party administrators can comply with MHPAEA when assisting counties in providing non-federal government health plans
  • Adopt a tiered penalty system that adjusts based on violation severity and frequency to boost compliance and ease financial burdens

Want to see what else NACo is doing in the fight for Mental Health Parity?

Learn More

Related News

Counseling
Advocacy

NACo commission on mental health sends letter to Congress

On November 13, members of NACo's Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing sent a letter to the U.S. Senate Committees on Finance and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. The Commission called on Congress to support counties in delivering high-quality, assessible mental health services to address residents' comprehensive behavioral health needs in any mental health legislation package. 

THE_County Countdown_working_image-4.png
Advocacy

County Countdown – Nov. 20, 2023

Every other week, NACo’s County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.

THE_County Countdown_working_image-4.png
Advocacy

County Countdown – Nov. 6, 2023

Mental health
Advocacy

Senators launch Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus

Senators launch the Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus, a promising partner for NACo's Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing in advancing crucial mental health policy.

infant mortality
County News

North Carolina county program aims to reduce high Black infant mortality rate

Guilford County, N.C. is aiming to reduce its racial disparity in infant mortality by 50% in five years and eliminate it completely within the next decade. 

Barbie Robinson, executive director of Harris County, Texas’s public health department, answers a question posed by Axios’ Adriel Bettelheim. Photo by Bryan Dozier
County News

Harris County boosts care to reduce Black infant and maternal mortality

By addressing the social determinants of health, Harris County, Texas is aiming to reduce its Black maternal and infant mortality rates. 

Upcoming Events

children
Webinar

Rural Prenatal-to-Three Peer Learning Network: Centering Family Voice in Local Policy

Join this virtual convening to learn more about how and why county governments can engage families in planning and implementation efforts.

kids
Webinar

Urban Prenatal-to-Three Peer Learning Network: Centering Family Voice in Local Policy

Join this virtual convening to learn more about how and why county governments can engage families in planning and implementation efforts.

GettyImages 1385170534 (1).jpg
Webinar

Care Coordination for Improved Population Behavioral Health

We invite you to join this presentation to discover proven solutions and compelling success metrics from other counties.