Expand insurance protections and integration for mental health and addiction care

While record numbers of Americans are struggling with mental health and substance use disorders, very few receive treatment. Access and affordability create barriers to needed care.

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires parity in coverage for behavioral and physical health care in private and employer-provided plans, but the requirement does not apply to some federal health plans, including Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Medicaid fee-for-service. Without adequate insurance coverage, care is often prohibitively expensive. Additionally, behavioral health care is often siloed from the rest of health care, further limiting access and fostering stigma. There is a shortage of behavioral health providers, exacerbated by low reimbursement rates. Even when there are providers available, patients may not always be able to find them or ensure they are covered by insurance due to frequently outdated and inaccurate provider directories.

The Better Mental Health Care for Americans Act would address these barriers to care. It would:

• Apply parity requirements in Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Medicaid
• Ensure Medicare Advantage plans maintain accurate and updated provider directories so patients can find in-network providers
• Increase reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid to encourage integration of behavioral and physical health care
• Establish a demonstration program to increase access to integrated care for children across settings, like schools
• Increase accountability and oversight of integrated care under Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance
• Require CMS to develop and implement plans to better align payments, measure access and quality, and improve prevention services

Send a letter to your Senators urging them to support the Better Mental Health Care for Americans Act to ensure all Americans, including seniors and low-income children and adults, are protected from discriminatory insurance coverage and can access much needed mental health and addiction services.