Bill 118 s 5524, also known as the Mental Health Parity Enforcement Act, aims to address violations of mental health parity requirements. The bill proposes the implementation of civil monetary penalties for individuals or entities found to be in violation of these requirements.
Mental health parity refers to the concept of ensuring that mental health and substance use disorder benefits are provided on equal terms with medical and surgical benefits. This means that insurance plans must offer the same level of coverage and benefits for mental health services as they do for physical health services.
The bill seeks to strengthen enforcement of these parity requirements by imposing financial penalties on those who fail to comply. This would serve as a deterrent to insurance companies and other entities from discriminating against individuals seeking mental health treatment.
By holding violators accountable through civil monetary penalties, the Mental Health Parity Enforcement Act aims to promote equal access to mental health services and reduce stigma surrounding mental health issues. This legislation is an important step towards ensuring that individuals receive the care they need without facing discrimination or barriers to treatment.