Every day, we fight to advance parity for millions of Americans with mental health and addiction challenges.
Strong state legislation to bolster the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (Federal Parity Law) is critical. The Kennedy Forum works closely with state legislators, advocacy groups, and others to champion bills designed to increase access to care for those with mental health and substance use disorders and hold insurers accountable for equal coverage of treatment services. Our Model State Parity Legislation has helped to shape essential parity bills in several states. Each section targets key areas that must be addressed to ensure that coverage for mental health and substance use disorders is equal to coverage for other medical conditions. Watch highlights from state efforts below.
Click here to see a full map of states that have adopted The Kennedy Forum’s models to increase access to mental health and addiction care.
State Parity Leaders
Bill enacted in 2020 based on The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation.
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Bill enacted in 2020 that led to The Kennedy Forum’s Jim Ramstad Model State Legislation to Advance Mental Health and Addiction Equity.
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Bill enacted in 2019 based on The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation.
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Bill enacted in 2019 based on The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation.
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Bill enacted in 2018 based on The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation.
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Bill enacted in 2019 based on The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation.
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Enacted legislation in 2022 that included provisions from The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation and Ramstad Model Bill.
Bill enacted in 2018 based on The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation. In 2021, Illinois passed The Kennedy Forum’s Ramstad Model Legislation.
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Bill enacted in 2020 based on The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation.
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Enacted legislation in 2021 based on The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation.
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Took administrative action in 2020 to require annual parity reporting consistent with The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation.
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Enacted legislation in 2021 based on The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation.
Enacted legislation in 2020 requiring annual parity reporting consistent with The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation.
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Enacted legislation in 2021 requiring annual parity reporting consistent with The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation.
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Enacted legislation in 2021 requiring annual parity reporting consistent with The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation.
See details here.
Bill enacted in 2019 based on The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation.
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Enacted legislation in 2018 to ensure fair data reporting for mental health and addiction coverage and an ombudsman to assist the public.
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Bill enacted in 2020 based on The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation.
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Enacted legislation in 2021 that included provisions from The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation and Ramstad Model Bill.
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Enacted legislation in 2020 based on The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation.
Governor Gina Raimondo signed executive order prioritizing parity in 2018.
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Enacted legislation in 2018 to mandate a state parity workgroup and create an ombudsman to assist the public. In 2021, Issued final regulations requiring parity reporting consisted with The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation.
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Bills enacted in 2017 (for Medicaid plans) and 2018 (for commercial plans) based largely on The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation.
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Enacted legislation in 2020 requiring annual parity reporting consistent with The Kennedy Forum Model State Parity Legislation.
See details here.
