Just released today! An issue brief from the Office of Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)

ASPE ISSUE BRIEF

Affordable Care Act Expands Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Benefits and Federal Parity Protections for 62 Million Americans

February 20, 2013

By: Kirsten Beronio, Rosa Po, Laura Skopec, Sherry Glied

Abstract

The Affordable Care Act builds on the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 to extend federal parity protections to 62 million Americans. The parity law aims to ensure that when coverage for mental health and substance use conditions is provided, it is generally comparable to coverage for medical and surgical care. The Affordable Care Act builds on the parity law by requiring coverage of mental health and substance use disorder benefits for millions of Americans in the individual and small group markets who currently lack these benefits, and expanding parity requirements to apply to millions of Americans whose coverage did not previously comply with those requirements.

Read full report: http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/2013/mental/rb_mental.cfm