On March 20, Advocates for Human Potential Inc. (AHP) issued a revised analysis of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) Interim Final Rule (IFR).  The report provides a detailed summary of the main provisions of the IFR and the timeline for implementation.  In addition, AHP’s analysis highlights the operational considerations and implications of each provision of the IFR for plans and payers as well as providers.  AHP plans to update the document routinely until the IFR open comment period ends May 3.

From the report:

This Special Report provides a preliminary analysis of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) Interim Final Rule and regulations. Readers can expect regular updates to this Report based upon ongoing analysis, exchange of findings and opinions between experts, and material changes in understanding that arise from implementation. In addition, this document will be updated in response to any supplemental clarification provided by the Departments following the open comment period ending May 3rd 2010. The Report is written for the benefit of diverse audiences including public and private health plans and insurers, payers, state and federal agencies, legislators, consumer advocates, mental health and substance use disorder providers, the medical community and business. In marked contrast to the highly polarized debate on health care reform currently in process, the MHPAEA was sponsored in a bi-partisan fashion and signed into law by then President George W. Bush. It evolved from more than a decade of earlier state and federal legislation and large-scale research, as well as impassioned advocacy, negotiation and compromise between stakeholders. The IFR ushers Parity into effect, and this Report, drawing upon the same spirit of cooperation and mutual interest that produced the law, aspires to make the implementation process more informed and effective for all who are involved.

Full report:  Preliminary Operational Analysis of the Mental Health Parity and  Addiction Equity Act Interim Final Rule (PDF | 986.72 KB)

AHP Healthcare Solutions. (2010). Preliminary operational analysis of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act Interim Final Rule.