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12/29/2014
APA poster explains 10 key elements of MH parity law
Ensure Your Patients Get the MH Benefits to Which They Are Entitled
APA has created a poster explaining the 10 key elements of the mental health parity law and the steps to take when a violation is suspected. The poster appeared in the December 5 issue of Psychiatric News and is available for downloading here.
You can display the poster in your waiting room or office, share it with community leaders and employers, and provide handouts to patients.
Patients gained important rights in 2008 with the passage of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). This law made it clear that insurers cannot discriminate against patients with a mental illness, including a substance use disorder. But the law is only as strong as its enforcement, and action needs to be taken when patients are denied their rights. Learn more about the MHPAEA and find resources related to the law here.
To read APA President Paul Summergrad, M.D.'s column on this subject in Psychiatric News, titled "Parity Enforcement: A Top Priority," click here.
