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Subtopics |
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The Mental Health Parity Act (MHPA) provides for parity in the
application of aggregate lifetime and annual dollar limits on mental health
benefits with dollar limits on medical/surgical benefits. A plan that does not
impose an annual or lifetime dollar limit on medical and surgical benefits may
not impose such a dollar limit on mental health benefits offered under the
plan. MHPA does not apply to benefits for substance abuse or chemical
dependency. Health plans are not required to include mental health benefits in
their benefits package. MHPA only applies to those plans that do offer mental
health benefits.
DOL Web Pages on This
Topic
Consumer Information on
Health Plans Provides fact sheets, booklets, and other health plan
information from the Department's Employee Benefits Security Administration
(EBSA).
Compliance
Assistance Provides publications and other materials to assist employers
and employee benefit plan practitioners in understanding and complying with the
requirements of the Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) for the
administration of pension and health plans.
Questions and Answers:
Mental Health Parity Act Provides answers to commonly asked questions
about the Mental Health Parity Act.
Fact Sheet: Mental Health
Parity Act Provides a brief overview of the Mental Health Parity
Act.
Compliance Assistance for
Group Health Plans: HIPAA and Other Recent Health Care Laws Provides 10
key compliance considerations for group health plans.
Health Coverage
Portability (PDF) Provides information about major provisions of the
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the Newborns' and Mothers'
Health Protection Act, the Mental Health Parity Act, and the Women's Health and
Cancer Rights Act.
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