Opinion: Patients need policymakers’ help to enforce mental health parity laws
We are long overdue for making sure that the Parity Act fulfills its promise of ending discriminatory and illegal barriers to treatment for mental illness and addiction.
During the midterm election, voters sent several clear messages. Two in the health sphere were that they want equitable, affordable, and comprehensive health care coverage; and they want solutions to address the opioid epidemic.
The newly constituted Congress has a tool with vast — and sadly untapped — potential to address both issues: the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, also known as the Parity Act.
That law, which has just marked its 10th anniversary, requires health insurers to provide the same level of coverage for mental health problems and substance use disorders that they provide for medical and
