For years, mental health parity has operated in a landscape defined by partial visibility. Laws were on the books, but the mechanics of compliance were often opaque. Regulators faced information gaps. Advocates relied on case-by-case complaints. The result was an incomplete picture of where parity was working – and where it was not.
That picture is becoming clearer.
Recent research authored by The Kennedy Forum’s Chief Policy Officer Nathaniel Z. Counts, published in Psychiatric Services, examines how artificial intelligence performs when applied to parity-related review. The findings are instructive. AI is not universally effective; it struggles with complex interpretive and contextual tasks that require human judgment. But it proves particularly strong at identifying potential non-compliance – flagging patterns, inconsistencies, and disparities within large volumes of plan documentation and structured data. In fact, The LLM identified, on average, 3.8 areas of potential noncompliance per document, with an average PPV of 49%.
“We are entering a defining era for artificial intelligence in public policy,” Counts said. “The question is not whether AI will shape the health insurance coverage landscape – it already is. The question is whether it will protect access to care and ensure families get the medically necessary services they paid for. In mental health, that means improving AI tools for regulators, employers, consumers and providers to ensure compliance with laws like parity.”
At the same time, The Kennedy Forum continues to diligently work on expanding the Mental Health Parity Index (MHPI) nationwide – a groundbreaking tool that uses key transparency in coverage (TiC) data to represent key metrics on network adequacy and provider reimbursement rates. Taken together with new research and advocacy progress, we are beginning to chart an increasingly comprehensive picture of how parity functions.
Together, these developments contribute to a fuller understanding of the parity ecosystem that we will continue to share with partners who are also finding new data, emerging solutions, and exciting paths for progress.
How You Can Get Involved
Progress in parity implementation and enforcement depends on collaboration. If you are a state leader, regulator, advocate, or policy partner interested in strengthening oversight in your jurisdiction, we invite you to join our State Parity Workgroup. Email info@thekennedyforum.org to connect with colleagues across the country, exchange best practices, and be among the first to learn about new research and tools.
You can also download our State Parity Gold Standards, a practical framework designed to help states evaluate and strengthen their enforcement infrastructure.
Finally, stay connected with The Kennedy Forum for continued research, policy insights, and emerging ideas as we work to build a more transparent, accountable mental health and addiction coverage system nationwide.
