Labor Agency Enforcement Lags on Mental Health Parity, OIG Says

The Department of Labor needs additional authority to make employers comply with mental health coverage requirements in health plans, though regulators have not used all the tools at their disposal for enforcement, a federal watchdog said.

Congress should give the Employee Benefits Security Administration more staff and the ability to fine health plan sponsors and insurance companies that don’t comply with mental health parity rules, the DOL Office of Inspector General said in a report released Friday.

Regulators should also establish procedures and timelines to use the authorities they do have, OIG said.

The report, based on an audit of ...