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Deadline approaches for compliance with the MHPAEA
April 5, 2010
The federal government's regulations for the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) take effect on April 5 and apply to plan years beginning on or after July 1.
The MHPAEA applies to most employers with more than 50 employees.
It requires any group health plan that includes mental health and substance abuse benefits to treat those benefits just as other medical and surgical benefits are treated in terms of out-of-pocket costs, benefit limits, and practices like prior authorization.
Note, though, that the act doesn't require employers to provide mental health and substance abuse benefits.
Please contact Sherrie Zenter with questions.