TxABA Public Policy Group
MHPAEA Workshop
Don’t miss the chance to earn 3 Ethics CEUs!
Join our TxABA PPG Officers, Mariel, Anna, and Ellen, at the TxABA 40th Annual Conference for an interactive in-person pre-conference workshop!
Event Details
➤ What: The Mental Health Parity & Addiction Equity Act: What Behavior Analysts Need to Know
➤ Where: Dallas, TX
➤ When: Thu, 04.24.25, from 3-6 pm
Learn more and register here: https://www.txaba.org/2025PreConferenceWorkshops
Join our in person workshop to discover valuable insights and enhance your knowledge!
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​Abstract
The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) is a federal law that prevents group health plans and health insurance issuers that provide mental health or substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits from imposing more restrictive benefit limitations than for substantially all of the medical/ surgical benefits.
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On September 9, 2024, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury released new final rules implementing MHPAEA. The new final rules clarify requirements for individual and group health plans, including Medicaid MCOs, and reduce administrative burden to access care, including how and when health plans are required to complete and provide parity analysis to demonstrate compliance with MHPAEA.
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MHPAEA is one of the most powerful regulations in place that supports access to medically necessary care. Behavior Analysts must have a fundamental understanding of MHPAEA protections and parity requirements to effectively advocate for medically necessary services, appeal denials or partial denials, and meet ethical obligations for their clients. This workshop will provide a high level overview of MHPAEA, how and when it applies, what behavior analysts should know about the 2024 final rules and policy revisions, and how regulators at the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), Department of Labor (DOL), and The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) can help ensure payor compliance.​