David Shillcutt, Senior Counsel in the Health Care & Life Sciences practice, in the firm’s Washington, DC, office, was quoted in Benefits Pro, in “2023 Employee Benefits & Workplace Predictions: This Year's Must-Have Benefits,” by Lily Peterson.
Following is an excerpt:
Most employers offer traditional benefits like health care, however, benefits advisors think new benefits will gain popularity within the year. Will traditional health care expand to include mental health and fertility care? How will employers respond to the economic downturn in terms of benefits?
Here’s what industry thought leaders think will happen within the benefits world …
Push for SUD treatment
Congress is expected to develop legislation to provide greater oversight for mental health and substance use disorder provider networks. Two key proposals that are currently in development include Senate bill S. 5093, sponsored by Sens. Tina Smith (D-MN) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and the bipartisan H.R. 5888. These proposals would require new monitoring and reporting on health plans’ provider networks for mental health and substance use disorder services. Proposals in both the House and Senate would also include requirements to ensure the accuracy of provider network directories. Proposals also include varying approaches to analyzing the adequacy of the mental health and substance use disorder provider network either pursuant to specific standards or in comparison to networks for medical and surgical providers under mental health parity.
