The Jewish Federations of North America applauds the House of Representative's passage of the Mental Health Matters Act. The legislation proposes to strengthen enforcement of the federal mental health parity law and provide grants for additional school-based mental health resources.
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, enacted by Congress in 2008, requires insurance coverage for mental health conditions and substance use disorders to be no more restrictive than insurance coverage for other medical conditions, but has not been adequately enforced. This legislation proposes to strengthen the Department of Labor’s authority to ensure that employer-based health plans are held accountable for improperly denying consumers mental health and substance use treatment benefits.
Jewish Federations have long advocated for mental health parity and enforcement to ensure that clients of Jewish family service agencies receive the mental health and behavioral health benefits to which they are legally entitled. We look forward to collaborating with key stakeholders and members on both sides of the aisle that are working towards Senate passage of this vital legislation.