Mental Health Parity

Policy Action Across the States

As of April, 30 states have enacted mental health parity laws, including New Mexico, Utah, and New Jersey who passed legislation in the 2000 session. Almost all laws require insurers to provide coverage of severe mental illnesses equal to that of other illnesses. One fourth of the states require coverage of additional mental health services and substance abuse treatment. Nearly half of the laws provide exemptions for small businesses. While it is significant that 2/3 of all states have enacted some form of mental health parity legislation, many of the laws fail to provide adequate coverage, according to the Surgeon General’s recent report on mental health.

CPA is conducting a review of mental health parity laws across the states and is working with the Kellogg Foundation’s Community Voices Initiative to inform policymakers about increasing access to mental health services. Please contact Nancy Epstein, Director of CPA’s Health Policy Program at (202) 387-6030 for more information.

Click here to view CPA’s Policy Brief on Mental Health Parity.

Summary of Existing Laws as of April, 2000