Overview
As mental health parity laws continue to evolve, health insurance plans and medical providers contend with compliance and regulatory issues on a daily basis. Specifically, these laws impose new obligations on insurers, administrators, and group health care plans to prevent discrimination against consumers regarding their health insurance benefits.
While the mental health parity laws apply to nearly every insurance market nationwide, they reflect a sweeping new approach to the regulations associated with managed care.
Health care plan sponsors often face considerable challenges when ensuring compliance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. At Epstein Becker Green, we work with health insurance carriers and clients in the managed care industry to develop and implement compliance procedures amid the ever-changing regulatory landscape.
Our Services
The mental health parity laws are some of the most complex regulations imposed on health insurance carriers. Previously, the regulatory focus concerned oversight efforts regarding documentation of compliance with non-quantitative treatment limits. However, with the issuance of U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) guidance, the importance of implementing formal compliance programs has been emphasized at both the state and federal levels.
Our experienced attorneys help health care plan administrators and insurers incorporate the necessary regulatory requirements into their parity compliance programs by assisting them with the following:
- reviewing existing parity compliance programs;
- conducting comparative analyses of non-quantitative treatment limitations;
- implementing utilization review policies;
- ensuring compliance with written notification requirements;
- developing remediation plans;
- monitoring for and detecting improper practices;
- creating a methodology for developing and applying provider reimbursement rates; and
- implementing system configurations.
In addition to ensuring compliance with the DOL’s regulatory requirements, we assist clients with addressing the guidance set forth by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and state enforcement authorities. Whether your business is a startup or an established company, our lawyers will work with you to develop a thorough and effective plan for parity compliance.
Insight and Innovation
According to regulations, insurers must not only have detailed written policies and procedures in place but also establish a system to assess ongoing parity compliance. As the insurance industry continues to tackle the largely uninterpreted compliance requirements, our clients know they can trust us to help them navigate this unchartered territory.
Offering an innovative approach and strategic insight, Epstein Becker Green is on the cutting edge in the field of health care regulatory compliance. Providing comprehensive support and effective solutions, we work closely with our clients to develop mental health parity compliance programs to reduce risk and mitigate costs. Not only do our attorneys assist insurers and plan providers with implementing new programs, but we also offer end-to-end legal services to ensure continued compliance.
Practical Guidance and Sophisticated Solutions
Epstein Becker Green is among the most well-regarded firms in the legal field for matters concerning health care regulatory compliance. Our clients value our knowledge, acumen, and extensive experience and have confidence in our wide-ranging capabilities, practical guidance, and ability to offer sophisticated solutions. Understanding the many regulatory questions our clients face, we are committed to providing high-quality legal services and trusted counsel as new mental health parity laws take effect.
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Services
Industries
Experience
- Mental Health ParityAdvised State Medicaid Agency on Completion of Analysis for Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) Compliance for Medicaid Program
- Mental Health ParityProvided Counsel to National Group Commercial Insurer with the Use of Third-Party Administrators Regarding Mental Health Parity Compliance
Contacts
- Member of the Firm
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Media
Events
Past Events
- Fall 2024
Insights
Insights
- BlogsVideo: Mental Health Parity Rules, NLRB Restrictions, New York's Workplace Violence Prevention Law - Employment Law This ...4 minute read
- PublicationsFinal Mental Health Parity Rules Released: Next Steps for Employers8 minute read
- PublicationsApplication of New Mental Health Parity Rules to Provider Network Composition and Reimbursement: Perspective and Analysis ...14 minute read
- PublicationsMental Health Parity: Federal Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health Release Landmark Regulations12 minute read
- Media CoverageDavid Shillcutt Quoted in “3 Atty Takeaways on Mental Health Parity Final Rules”3 minute read
- Media CoverageKevin Malone Quoted in “Mental Health Parity Rule Pushes Employers to Rethink Status Quo”3 minute read
- Media CoverageDavid Shillcutt Quoted in “Illinois Bans Step Therapy, Health Plan Prior Authorization for Emergency Mental Health ...3 minute read
- PublicationsTechnology as a Tool to Address the Youth Mental Health Crisis2 minute read
- PublicationsPart 2, Part Deux: New Rules for SUD Information Sharing2 minute read
- Media CoverageDavid Shillcutt Quoted in “Decline in EBSA Funding May Hurt Mental Health Parity Efforts”2 minute read
- Media CoverageDavid Shillcutt Quoted in “Growth in Outpatient Programs Signals Opportunities for MFTs, MHCs”2 minute read
- PublicationsTop Ten Issues in Health Law 2024—Major Expansion of Federal Regulation of Managed Care Through the Mental Health Parity ...6 minute read
- Media CoverageDavid Shillcutt Quoted in “4 Major Benefits Policy Developments from 2023”3 minute read
- Firm AnnouncementsEpstein Becker Green Announces 2024 Promotions6 minute read
- Media CoverageDavid Shillcutt Quoted in “Calls for Detail Emerge as Theme in Parity Rule Comments”3 minute read
- Media CoverageDavid Shillcutt Quoted in “3 Takeaways from Biden's Mental Health Parity Proposal”4 minute read
- Media CoverageRachel Snyder Good Featured in “The Top Mid-Law People Moves of 2023 So Far”2 minute read
- Media CoverageDavid Shillcutt Quoted in “3 Items on Attys' Wish List for Mental Health Parity Guidance”2 minute read
- Media Coverage
Rachel Snyder Good Featured in Law360 Pulse
2 minute read - Firm AnnouncementsRachel Snyder Good, Health Care Attorney, Former Advisor to U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer ...3 minute read
- PublicationsRecent Federal Actions Significantly Enhance Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatment2 minute read
- Media CoverageDavid Shillcutt Quoted in "2023 Employee Benefits & Workplace Predictions: This Year's Must-Have Benefits"2 minute read
- PublicationsU.S. Telehealth Regulations Changing the Landscape in 20233 minute read
- Media CoverageDavid Shillcutt Quoted in “3 Questions About DOL's Mental Health Parity Push”3 minute read
- Media CoverageDavid Shillcutt Quoted in “5 October Court Hearings Benefits Attys Should Watch”3 minute read
- PublicationsMental Health Parity: Increased Enforcement Efforts Highlighted in 2022 Report to CongressSpring 20222 minute read
- Publications2022 Mental Health Parity Report to Congress Highlights Increased Enforcement Efforts20 minute read
- PublicationsTri-Agencies Release Report on Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) Compliance1 minute read
- Media CoverageKevin Malone, David Shillcutt Quoted in “DOL Says Employers Struggling with Mental Health Parity Law”4 minute read
- Media CoverageGary Herschman, Kevin Malone Discuss Private Equity’s Push into the Mental Health Space in Q&A with Dana Jacoby ...3 minute read
- PublicationsU.S. Department of Labor Settles Unprecedented Lawsuit Against United Healthcare for Alleged Violations of the Mental ...2 minute read
- Media CoverageKevin Malone Quoted in “Employers on Hook for Mental Health Parity Despite New Target”4 minute read
- PublicationsU.S. Department of Labor Settles Unprecedented Lawsuit Against United Healthcare for Violations of the Mental Health ...12 minute read
- PublicationsMental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Compliance: Documentation Requirements and Federal Enforcement ...March-April 20212 minute read