DOL RELEASES FAQs ON ACA IMPLEMENTATION AND MENTAL HEALTH

The Department of Labor has issued answers to more frequently asked questions (FAQs).  The Affordable Care Act (ACA) topics covered include preventive services, limits on out-of-pocket costs, expatriate plans, wellness programs and fixed indemnity insurance; the FAQs also address mental health parity.

ADMINISTRATION ISSUES FINAL MENTAL HEALTH PARITY RULE

The Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Treasury have jointly issued a final rule increasing parity between mental health/substance use disorder benefits and medical/surgical benefits in group and individual health plans.  In general, these final regulations incorporate clarifications issued by the Departments since the issuance of the interim final regulations, and provide new clarifications on issues such as nonquantitative treatment limits and the increased cost exemption.

FAQS ABOUT AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IMPLEMENTATION

The Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury have released more answers to frequently asked questions about Affordable Care Act Implementation, addressing who must comply with limitations on cost-sharing and clarifying coverage of certain preventive services.

Employers Need to Gear up Compliance Efforts

On February 14, 2011, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released its Fiscal Year 2012 proposed budget, which seeks $12.8 billion in discretionary budget authority and 17,848 full-time equivalent employees (FTE). The proposal increases funding for enforcement of labor and employment laws, making compliance more important than ever for employers.

AGENCIES CREATE SAFE HARBOR FOR MENTAL HEALTH PARITY

The regulatory agencies responsible for enforcing mental health parity have established a temporary safe harbor that will allow plans that have copayments for office visits and coinsurance for other outpatient services to comply more easily with the regulations under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA).

Rules Issued Under the Mental Health Parity & Addiction Equity Act of 2008

On February 2, 2010 the Internal Revenue Service, Employee Benefits Security Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services issued interim final rules implementing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA).  The Act requires parity between mental health or substance use disorder benefits (previously known as substance abuse benefits) and medical/surgical benefits with respect to financial requirements and treatment limitations under group health plans and health insurance coverage in connection with a group health plan.