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Release Date: April 28, 2009
Release Number: 09-458-NAT
Contact Name: Gloria Della
Phone Number: 202.693.8664
Washington – The U.S. Departments of Labor,
Treasury, and Health and Human Services today announced publication of a
request for information (RFI) soliciting public comments in advance of
developing rulemakings on group health plans. The RFI is published in
today’s Federal Register.
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of
2008 (MHPAEA) creates new rules for any financial requirement (e.g.,
cost-sharing) or treatment limitations (e.g., visit limits) on mental
health and substance use disorder benefits so that they are no more
restrictive than predominant requirements or limitations applied to
substantially all medical and surgical benefits covered by a plan.
MHPAEA also reauthorized several provisions relating to parity in annual
and lifetime dollar limits for group health plan coverage enacted as
part of the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996.
The RFI seeks public comments on such issues as the:
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Types of financial requirements or
treatment limits plans currently impose.
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Terms in the statute that require
additional clarification to facilitate compliance.
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Current disclosure practices by
plans regarding medical necessity determinations and denials of
mental health benefits.
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Current practices regarding
out-of-network coverage for mental health benefits.
Written comments responding to the MHPAEA RFI may be
addressed to the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Health Plan
Standards and Compliance Assistance, Employee Benefits Security
Administration, N-5653, 200 Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C.
20210, Attn: MHPAEA Comments. The public also may submit comments
electronically by email to E-OHPSCA.EBSA@dol.gov or through the federal
e-rulemaking portal at www.regulations.gov.
U.S. Department of Labor news releases are accessible on the
Department's Newsroom
page. The information in this news release will be made available
in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or
disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when
placing your request at 202.693.7828 or TTY 202.693.7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America's employers and
employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply
with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit the
Department's Compliance
Assistance page.
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