A bipartisan group of 22 senators is calling on the Obama administration to step up its enforcement of a law governing how insurers cover mental health.
Christopher (Chris) Scott MurphyOvernight Health Care — Presented by the Association of American Medical Colleges — Governors criticize Trump move on pre-existing conditions Bipartisan group of senators asks FDA to examine drug shortages Trump faces Father’s Day pleas to end separations of migrant families MORE (D-Conn.) and Kelly Ayotte
Kelly Ann AyotteErnst, Fischer to square off for leadership post The Hill's Morning Report: Koch Network re-evaluating midterm strategy amid frustrations with GOP Audit finds US Defense Department wasted hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars MORE (R-N.H.), raises concerns about the enforcement of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. That 2008 law prevents health insurers from limiting mental health coverage more than they limit physical health coverage, a requirement known as parity. ObamaCare later extended the requirement to individual health insurance plans as well. But in the letter to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor, the senators argue that the law is not being carried out properly, calling for “immediate and overdue action to implement and enforce” it.
“Parity is still not a reality for individuals living with mental illness and addiction today,” the senators write. “Our constituents from across the country continue to report denials of care and great difficulties in accessing substance use and mental health disorder treatment and services.”
The senators say they hear reports of difficulty obtaining information from insurers about how mental health is covered. The lawmakers ask about the administration’s audits and guidance to insurers to ensure compliance with the law.
Mental health is an issue that has been seeing bipartisan action on a range of fronts. Murphy has a mental health reform bill with Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) is pushing a similar effort in the House. Rep. Murphy is also leading a House version of the letter calling for more enforcement.
Murphy’s bill would require the administration to conduct audits and issue guidance on mental health parity.
This post was updated at 2:06 p.m.
