Help Ensure Mental Health Parity in Your State With Gold Standards

The Kennedy Forum and Legal Action Center collaborated to create State Parity Gold Standards, a series of briefs highlighting essential mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) parity concepts for states to consider in their parity implementation. These briefs, which will be updated over time, include comprehensive breakdowns of issues, gold standards for states in the implementation of these concepts, as well as examples of model regulations and legislation for regulators, advocates, and lawmakers’ consideration.

Ultimately, these standards enhance state fidelity to federal Parity and mental health and addiction access laws, ensuring better access to mental health and substance use treatment for more Americans.

State Codification

Learn the key components of the federal regulations implementing MHPAEA and what states can do to align and implement their laws and regulations to align with them.

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FAQs and Additional Info

Why Are State Parity Gold Standards Important?

There is an incredible opportunity to help boost mental health and addiction care across the U.S.

States have the authority to directly incorporate the final parity rule into statutes. The State Parity Gold Standards offer key, coordinated, potent opportunities to streamline enforcement. We hope to compile the information necessary to save time and resources on the way to stronger parity protections.

Who Can Use the State Parity Gold Standard modules?

Though the Standards are created specifically for state insurance regulators, anyone who would like to see greater parity enforcement where they live can use the State Parity Gold Standards – health agencies, legislators, advocacy organizations, and health policy experts.

How Many Modules Will There Be in Total?

We are still building and will add to the State Parity Gold Standards. Currently, we have plans to cover the following topics: State Codification of Federal Rules; Generally Accepted Standards of Care; Corrective Enforcement Actions; Data Collection, Evaluation, and Reporting Requirements; and more.

Who Should I Contact with Questions about The State Parity Gold Standards?

Many aspects of the State Parity Gold Standard are discussed in the State Parity Workgroup that meets monthly. If you would like to request to join the group, contact info@thekennedyforum.org. The State Parity Workgroup is a great opportunity to ask questions, meet colleagues, and activate parity efforts in your state.

State Parity Workgroup

Join a monthly meeting to learn new developments in parity and get access to the latest guidelines, updates, and recommendations for state parity protections. Email info@thekennedyforum.org to join.

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More on Parity

See commonly asked questions about parity compliance, violations, claims, appeals, and more.

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