MHPAEA

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (29 USC § 1185a) requires group health plans and insurers to apply the same financial requirements and treatment limitations to mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits as to comparable medical and surgical benefits. It is the primary legal lever in behavioral health appeals. Note: the 2024 MHPAEA Final Rule has been subject to federal non-enforcement since May 2025, but the underlying 2008 statute and 2013 Final Rule (29 CFR § 2590.712) remain fully in force, as does the CAA 2021 § 203 disclosure duty.