Mental Health Parity

What is the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act?

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) is a federal law that generally prevents health plans that provide mental health or substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits from imposing less favorable benefit limitations on those benefits than on medical/surgical benefits.

NC Medicaid has conducted a Mental Health Parity Analysis to ensure compliance with Medicaid/ CHIP parity requirements.

Ensuring Parity for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Benefits

NC Medicaid, Tailored Plans and Standard Plans participated in the Mental Health Parity analysis, which involved identification and analysis of limitations on all mental health, substance use disorder and medical and surgical benefits offered to members. The findings of the analysis have been summarized in the following reports:

• Standard Plan Report
• Tailored Plan Report

Please email Medicaid.BenefitsParity@dhhs.nc.gov to request a copy of the Mental Health Parity report submitted to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).