2010 April 28 | Behavioral Health Today

Parity Requires Considerable Communication and Oversight

California’s experience with Parity since the year 2000 provides a glimpse into many of the potential pitfalls as well as a handful of thoughtful recommendations for greater success in implementation. The California experience reveals that, above all, communication to consumers and providers is critical. What was learned in California and other states is of [...]

Medicaid, Mental Health and “the Money” (originally posted Dec. 22, 2009)

On the one hand, I’m excited by the prospect that Medicaid eligibility rules might be reformed to cover people at up to 150% of poverty levels, swelling the ranks of Medicaid and ballooning the number of people in Medicaid managed care plans with Parity-compliant behavioral health benefits. On the other hand, a famous line [...]

What Can the Behavioral Health Field Expect in the Near-Term? (Originally posted Dec 22, 2009)

Prepare for Cost-Cutting and Efficiency. On the heels (we hope) of the recession and in anticipation of Parity and Reforms, every stakeholder in the healthcare system—states, counties, hospitals, physicians, behavioral health providers, payers and employers—is going to hunker down and figure out how to move forward on a tight budget. Behavioral health providers [...]

Analysis of New Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act Regulations

To download a comprehensive, 25-page, detailed analysis from AHP on the recently issued MHPAEA Regulations as a PDF, click here.

On Friday, January 29th, the three Federal departments charged with the promulgation of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), released their Interim Final Rule, also referred to as “the regulations”. [...]

Behavioral Health Adapting to Reform: Parity by the Numbers

Having just attended the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare conference in Florida last week, it is clear that the behavioral health field – much like the rest of America – is struggling to make sense of sweeping reforms. While the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) and the related Interim Final [...]

How Can Providers Optimize Preparations for Parity?

In order to maximize the opportunities associated with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA or “Parity”) in the commercial/private health insurance sectors, particularly among ERISA group plans, substance use disorder treatment providers (among others) are encouraged to conduct some serious business and strategic planning in the coming weeks and months. By [...]

Seize the Opportunity: Experts Agree that BH Field Must Standardize Tools and Integrate with Primary Care

It’s true that the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA, or “Parity” as it is often referred to) and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) create many opportunities for integration between mental health, substance use disorder and primary care providers. However, some of that integration will feel like a draconian [...]

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