This study explores participation in managed care networks in the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) parity program.  Only 44 percent of patients received care from in-network clinicians indicating the prominence of out-of-network mental health treatment and emphasizing the need to consider of out-of-network benefits in mental health parity. 

Regier, D. A., Bufka, L. A., Whitaker, T., Duffy, F. F., Narrow, W. E., Rae, D. S., et al. (2008). Parity and the use of out-of-network mental health benefits in the FEHB program. Health Affairs, 27(1): w70-83. 18 Dec. 2007. DOI: 0.1377/hlthaff.27.1.w70. http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/abstract/27/1/w70 © 2008 by Project HOPE.   

Authors: Darrel A. Regier, Lynn F. Bufka, Tracy Whitaker, Farifteh F. Duffy, William E. Narrow, Donald S. Rae, Geoffrey M. Reed, Omar F. Rehman, Maritza Rubio-Stipec, Toby Weismiller, Joshua E. Wilk, Joyce C. West