For Immediate Release
Contact: Rob Grant, Communications Director
202.966.7300, Ext. 119
rgrant@aacap.org
Samantha Phillips, Communications Coordinator
202.966.7300, Ext. 154
sphillips@aacap.org
Washington, D.C., October 28, 2016 – The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) applauds the White House Parity Task Force for their recent recommendations on how to improve the implementation and enforcement of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA).
AACAP President Gregory K. Fritz, MD, noted that AACAP is especially pleased that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is awarding $9.3 million to state insurance regulators to help enforce parity protections guaranteed under MHPAEA. These funds, coupled with a new federal parity website to help consumers find the appropriate federal or state agency to assist with parity complaints or appeals, brings us a step closer to the goal of mental health parity.
AACAP stands with the Task Force in its recommendations to increase federal agencies’ capacity to audit health plans for parity compliance, and its call for the robust implementation of the final rule applying parity to Medicaid Managed Care and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). AACAP looks forward to working with the Administration, Congress, and the states to ensure that all Americans’ rights to mental health parity are fully realized.
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Representing 9,000+ child and adolescent psychiatrists nationwide, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is the leading authority on children's mental health.
AACAP Members actively research, diagnose and treat psychiatric disorders affecting children, adolescents and their families. For more information please visit www.aacap.org.