Archived News Release Caution: Information may be out of date.
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Release Date: 01/23/2004
Release Number: 04-01
Contact Name: Sharon Morrissey
Phone Number: 202.693.8664
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Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of
Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced
a technical amendment extending the interim final rules under the Mental
Health Parity Act (MHPA) to December 31, 2004. |
President
Bush signed the Mental Health Reauthorization Act of 2003 on December 19,
2003 (P.L. 108-197, 117 Stat. 2998), extending the sunset date of MHPA to
December 31, 2004. |
The
original MHPA contained a sunset provision requiring that provisions of
the Act would not apply to benefits for services furnished on or after
September 30, 2001. MHPA has been amended twice before to extend the
sunset date. |
MPHA
requires that annual or lifetime dollar limits for mental heath benefits
be no lower than the dollar limits for medical/surgical benefits offered
by a group health plan. The Act applies to group health plans or health
insurance coverage offered by issuers in connection with a group health
plan that offers both mental health and medical/surgical benefits.
However, it does not require plans to offer mental health benefits. |
The
technical amendment extending the sunset date is set to be published in
the January 26 Federal Register. For more information about mental health
benefits, contact EBSA at 1.866.444.EBSA (3272) or visit the Web site at
www.dol.gov/ebsa to obtain a free copy of Questions
and Answers: Recent Changes in Health Care Law. |
U.S. Department of Labor
news releases are accessible on the Internet. The information in this news
release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large
print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the Central Office for Assistive
Services and Technology. Please specify which news release when placing
your request. Call 202.693.7773 or TTY 202.693.7755. |
Archived News Release Caution: Information may be out of date.
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