3-Feb-10 2:00 PM CST
New Rules for Mental Health Meds
The departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and the Treasury jointly released new rules they hope will make mental health and substance abuse medications more accessible to patients.
The new rules require employer health plans to offer the same level of coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatment medications as they would for other medications. Employers with less than 50 workers employed are exempt from the new rules. The rules are the result of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), which was passed in 2008.
According to the Reuters article, 150 million Americans are enrolled in company health plans. The joint-department released statement hailed the new law as a crucial step towards equality for consumers enrolled in company health plans.
“Today’s rules will bring needed relief to families faced with meeting the cost of obtaining mental health and substance abuse services,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “The benefits will give these Americans access to greatly needed medical treatment, which will better allow them to participate fully in society. That’s not just sound policy, it’s the right thing to do.”
The new rules will become law as early as July 1 of this year. Until then, HHS and the departments of Labor and Treasury are encouraging interested parties to comment on the new rules. Interested parties can make comments on www.regulations.gov. The HHS news release has more information.
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Tags: CPhT Department of Labor Department of Treasury HHS law medications mental health MHPAEA NPTA pharmacy pharmacy technician regulations substance abuse
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