Federal Mental
Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
The Federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction
Equity Act, effective October 3, 2009, prohibits
health plans from placing more restrictive financial
requirements or treatment limitations on mental
health or substance use disorder benefits than
on medical benefits. Beginning October 3, upon
renewal of employer group plans with 51 or more
employees, benefits for mental health or substance
use disorders will be equal to medical benefits. |
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The Act does not apply to:
- Non-federal government groups that are self-funded
(e.g., school districts, city and county groups)
- Uninsured persons
- Incarcerated individuals
- Medicaid or Medicare beneficiaries
- Small group plans (2-50 members) or
- Individual plan members
For verification of member benefits and eligibility,
please access the Provider Center or contact the Customer
Service number listed on the back of the member
card.
To request authorization for outpatient or intensive
outpatient services, fax a completed Regence Behavioral
Health Treatment Plan Request Form to
1 (800) 331-3505.
Current care management requirements are available
in the Care
Management section of our Provider Web
Site under Medical Pre-authorization.
The Behavioral Health section of our Administrative
Manual will be updated on February 1, 2010,
to reflect the new care management requirements.
Our care management team reviews and authorizes care
based on Regence
Behavioral Health policies.
1/13/2010
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