Mental Health Parity Awareness

Resources:

Access this toolkit to learn about health insurance parity for mental health and substance use disorder.

The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network has long recognized the value of timely and adequate access to behavioral health care in preventing suicide. Without timely and adequate treatment, depression and other mental illnesses can spiral towards a terminal result. Sections D and E of Goal 9 of the Tennessee Strategy for Suicide Prevention obligate TSPN to encourage behavioral health and health care delivery systems to "promote a comprehensive and seamless network of care for people at risk of suicide" and "build a comprehensive care network."

However, up until well into the 21st century, practices built into many insurance policies and health plans kept people from getting the help they needed. Health insurers were not obligated to cover behavioral health conditions like mental illness or substance abuse. If they did, that coverage cost more, with higher deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, along with the provision of the bare minimum of mental health and addiction treatment services that did not adequately address patients’ needs.

It is critical that health plans, employers, policymakers, and consumers know and understand the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. Congress's passage of the Act in 2008 mandated equal coverage for mental health and substance abuse disorders on par with physical health conditions.

In the years following, additional federal and state legislation compelled many insurers to embed mental health equity into their plans. State governments, including that of Tennessee, established mechanisms for monitoring insurers' commitment to mental health equity and enabling consumers to file complaints when the care they received fell short of those standards.

TSPN and groups including the Tennessee Parity Project and the Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug, and other Addiction Services (TAADAS) are working to promote mental health parity awareness. We want everyone seeking behavioral health care to know their rights as consumers, and to take action when those rights are violated.

We recommend visiting the website of the Tennessee Parity Project to learn more about the meaning of mental health parity, common parity violations, and how to file a complaint with your health plan provider. You can also contact the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance to file a complaint if your health plan fails to provide a satisfactory response.

The Kennedy Forum has made parity a leading priority to improve mental health and substance use treatment in America’s healthcare system. The Forum is working with policymakers and regulators to push for clearer guidelines and enforcement of parity law within the private sector as well as in Medicaid managed care and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Visit the Kennedy Forum’s website to learn more about its work regarding parity and other behavioral healthcare barriers.

The Tennessee Parity Project also offers parity education training sessions for consumers, health plan and billing company employees, behavioral health providers, legislators, employers, and others. We encourage you to sign up for a free training session and to join the Tennessee Parity Project and its work to ensure better, fairer care for all Tennesseans.