Download or read book The Impact of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) on Behavioral Health Care Utilization and Spending written by Mitz D. Alejandria and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 35 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 is a federal act that was passed to widen the scope of the previous Mental Health Parity Act (MHPA) of 1996. The MHPAEA constructed uniform treatment regulations regarding mental health and substance use disorders. After federal parity laws were enacted, increases were evident in both behavioral health care service utilization and spending. This qualitative analysis found that health care service utilization increases were seen in insured adults and their dependents in the realms of bipolar disorder, major depression, substance use disorders, and other various mental health disorders. Spending increases were seen from insurers and insured adults and their dependents. The evidence suggests that in combination with state parity laws, the federal mandate of mental health insurance laws can aid individuals in seeking the proper mental health care they seek. Regarding spending, this study found that out-of-pocket expenses increased post-parity in relation to pre-parity data. Federal enactment of parity laws suggests more effective utilization, spending, and regulation of mental health and substance use treatment services. Future policy implications at the federal level include improvements in patient risk protection at minimal increases in costs, protection for employers that assume the risk for health care services and increases in behavioral health care service utilization alongside minimal increases in spending from all parties.