Parity laws guarantee equal access to mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) care — but persistent gaps still occur, in part because many regulators lack the data needed to measure and enforce compliance.

Regulators can track and measure parity compliance aided with robust data collection, evaluation and reporting, leveraging disaggregated, accurate data that is analyzed, publicly reported, and examined within markets.

By implementing the recommendations in this guide, states can move from opaque, inconsistent reporting to data-driven implementation. Stronger requirements will make parity measurable, transparent, and enforceable — ensuring that health plans are incentivized to deliver equal access to care.