The launch of the Mental Health Parity Index marks an important step toward greater transparency in mental health and substance use care, made possible through collaboration with partners including Third Horizon, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Foundation, and Ballmer Group.
We’re grateful to see this work reflected in national and industry news coverage. Early reporting highlights the real and ongoing gaps in access and payment and reinforces the importance of data in informing policy, strengthening accountability, and driving system-level improvements. Increased visibility of these issues is an important step toward ensuring parity is not just a legal standard, but a reality in practice.
Coverage
Becker’s Healthcare: 43 states have mental health insurance disparities: 4 trends
The tool — created by the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Foundation, The Kennedy Forum, Third Horizon and the Ballmer Group — is an interactive, open-access platform that analyzes payer data to compare access, network participation and reimbursement for mental and physical health services. It was built using CMS’ transparency in coverage data and was piloted in Illinois.
Behavioral Health Business (BHB): Barriers Persist to In-Network Behavioral Health Care at the 4 Largest U.S. Health Plans
The Index found that beneficiaries of the nation’s largest commercial payers face greater difficulty finding in-network behavioral health providers than physical health providers. Patrick J. Kennedy noted that parity is just the beginning in ensuring patients receive the care they need.
Business Insider: New insurer data reveals significant gaps to in-network mental health care and treatment for substance use disorders when compared to physical health
A new tool unveiled today provides the first look at real-time commercial insurance data on mental health and substance use coverage metrics. The Mental Health Parity Index raises the potential of widespread issues for patient access and clinician pay, which can mean longer wait times, higher out-of-pocket costs, and increased reliance on out-of-network care for individuals seeking treatment. The Index was launched by The Kennedy Forum in collaboration with Third Horizon, the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Psychological Foundation, and Ballmer Group.
Fierce Healthcare: New Mental Health Parity Index highlights where disparities persist
“Mental health parity is about one simple promise: that mental health and addiction care are treated the same as any other medical care,” said Patrick J. Kennedy, co-founder of The Kennedy Forum, in the announcement.
Forbes: New Data Shows Gaps in Mental Health Coverage—How to Find In-Network Care
According to the Index, Americans in 43 states covered by the country’s four largest commercial insurers face potential disparities when seeking mental health or substance use disorder treatment relative to physical health care. Seven in 10 counties in the U.S. were found to have the same issue.
Healthcare Chief: New Mental Health Parity Index Sheds Greater Light on Disparities
Patrick J. Kennedy, co-founder of The Kennedy Forum, said that mental health parity centers on the principle that mental health and addiction services should be treated on equal footing with other forms of medical care. The analysis also revealed that none of the insurers evaluated meet parity standards nationwide, though certain regions have reached or surpassed those benchmarks.
Insurance Business: Patients struggle to find in-network mental health care in most US counties
“Mental health parity is about one simple promise: that mental health and addiction care are treated the same as any other medical care,” said Patrick J. Kennedy, co-founder of The Kennedy Forum and co-author of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. “The Mental Health Parity Index makes it impossible to ignore where we stand and offers a powerful opportunity to intentionally shape how we track and deliver treatment, building on work The Kennedy Forum has advanced to promote measurement-based care and new payment models that reward quality. This is a breakthrough moment to expand our vision – from what’s necessary to what’s possible – to give people the care they deserve no matter where they live.”
Partnership to End Addiction: Mental Health Parity Index reveals disparities
The Kennedy Forum launched the Mental Health Parity Index to track the availability of in-network mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) clinicians and their payment rates compared to that for physical health care, based on data from the four largest commercial insurance plans.
Politico: A new Kennedy Forum project found that 43 states show disparities in mental health care access
A new Kennedy Forum project found that 43 states show disparities in mental health care access, and patients in 70 percent of counties have difficulty finding in-network clinicians for mental health and addiction issues, Simon reports. […] Former Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), Health Secretary Robert F. KennedyJr.’s cousin, leads the Kennedy Forum. The cousins have teamed up to tackle mental health, making Patrick Kennedy the rare family member to embrace the secretary’s work.
STAT: The mental health parity gap is gaping
The mental health parity gap is gaping. The Mental Health Parity Index paints a stark picture: in 43 states, disparities persist for enrollees in plans offered by the nation’s largest insurers. It’s not just access—providers in every state are also paid less for these services.
TechTarget: Mental health parity remains elusive in 43 states
Created by The Kennedy Forum in collaboration with Third Horizon, the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Psychological Foundation (APF), and Ballmer Group, the Index uses commercial payer data to provide insights into mental health and substance use coverage. Ideally, the Index should give payers, providers, and policymakers the information necessary to bolster mental health parity.
American Hospital Association (AHA): Data highlights gaps in finding in-network mental health coverage
Data highlights gaps in finding in-network mental health coverage Americans across 43 states enrolled in health plans from the nation’s four largest commercial health insurers face potential disparities in finding in-network coverage for mental health care and substance use disorder treatment relative to physical health care, according to the Mental Health Parity Index released by The Kennedy Forum.
As more coverage continues, we look forward to seeing how this data informs conversations among policymakers, employers, advocates, and health plans—and, most importantly, how it contributes to building a system that delivers equitable access to care. To explore the Mental Health Parity Index, visit: www.thekennedyforum.org/focus-areas/coverage-parity/parity-index/.
