The heads of the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services discussed mental health and substance use disorder treatment equity with health insurance and business leaders May 3.
Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra spoke about compliance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, according to a May 4 news release.
“Without true parity for mental and behavioral health services, we have no hope of transforming mental health and helping to reduce stigma and increase access to care,” Becerra said, according to the release.
The federal law in general requires health insurance providers to cover mental health and substance use disorder benefits just like they cover medical or surgical health benefits, the release said. Walsh said group health plans and insurers must be able to show the department they provide mental health treatment coverage as the law requires.
“Parity in mental and behavioral health services is a basic right,” Becerra said in the release. “It’s a right I have long fought for in my career, and now as HHS Secretary where across my department and in partnership with my colleagues, I am committed to aggressively advancing.”
