Public Comments Requested on Implementation of Mental Health Parity
Some federal government agencies have requested public comments on the Mental Health Parity and Addition Equity Act. More information about the act is provided below thanks to the publication Addiction Professional. Full text of the act can be found at http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-1424.
The pros and cons of regulations need to be weighed now that this bill has become law. Citizens suffering with mental health disorders, alcoholism, or drug addiction will benefit through fairer coverage for treatment. Mental health treatment professionals and those who work in alcohol and drug treatment have seen how the disparity between physical and mental health coverage often postpones or discourages people from getting the treatment they need.
It is important that the positive effect the law will have on treatment coverage does not get lost in the regulations that implement the law. Therefore, Tarzana Treatment Centers is requesting you send comments that support fair coverage.
How to send comments:
- Go to this web address: http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=SubmitComment&o=090000648096e388
- Enter required information (optional if desired)
- “Submitter's Representative” = If unknown, do the following:
- Find yours at https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
- Enter your 5 or 9 digit zip code
- Press “Contact my representative”
- Enter the name of your representative
- “Government Agency Type” = Federal
- “Government Agency” = DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
- Enter comments in favor of parity and fairness in coverage for mental health treatment and alcohol or drug treatment
- Click “Next Step”
- Click “Submit”
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Federal government seeks public comment on implementation of parity law (4/28/2009)
Press Release
The Mental Health Parity and Addition Equity Act signed into law in October 2008 consolidated longstanding efforts at the national and state level to establish parity between the financial health coverage for mental health/substance abuse conditions, and physical health disorders. The three federal government agencies principally responsible for implementing this law – the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service — are issuing a request in the Federal Register seeking information and advice from the public addressing critical issues surrounding the best ways to implement the law and fulfill its objectives.
Among the issues that the departments are seeking information on are issues related to the most efficient and cost-effective ways of implementing this law. In addition, this request for information seeks information that would be helpful in the development of regulations needed to implement this law.
The Federal Register announcement can be accessed at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-9629.pdf
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before 30 days after the publication of this announcement in the Federal Register.
Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles makes a daily effort to find treatment news articles that we can share with our readers in the alcohol and drug treatment community. The external content was found among other articles of equal informational and educational quality.