March 1, 2022

AAC’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lawrence Weinstein, recently drafted an op-ed for Behavioral Healthcare Executive in light of the recent report issued by the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury indicating insurers have not been enforcing the federal law.

In the article, Dr. Weinstein describes the importance of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act from the vantage point of a behavioral healthcare provider. Initially, the 2008 act was welcomed because those who provide behavioral health care believed that those suffering from mental health conditions and/or substance use disorder would finally receive the treatment that was desperately needed. Unfortunately, as Dr. Weinstein explains, that has not been the case to the detriment of consumers.

Dr. Weinstein’s article goes on to describe six different strategies that all in the healthcare ecosystem, including insurers, regulators, providers and patients, could do to play a role in enforcing parity.

To read the entire article and Dr. Weinstein’s suggested strategies, visit Behavioral Healthcare Executive.