Biden Administration Finalizes Rule on Monday to Strengthen Mental Health Parity Law for 175 Million Americans

Sep 9, 2024, 09:04 AM

The Biden administration has finalized a rule on Monday to strengthen the mental health parity law, ensuring that Americans with private health insurance have the same access to mental health and substance-use benefits as they do for physical health benefits. This regulation aims to close loopholes that have allowed insurance companies to deny mental health care in many states. The 2008 parity law mandated equal treatment for mental and physical health conditions, but enforcement has been inconsistent. The new rule will impact approximately 175 million Americans and seeks to provide affordable mental health services. Various political figures, including Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and Governor Josh Shapiro, have emphasized the importance of mental health, particularly for first responders and residents in their respective states.