Budget Measure Seeks Fines for Mental Health Parity Violations (1)

Legislation to be considered Thursday by the House Education and Labor Committee would add civil monetary penalties for mental health parity violations.

Health plan sponsors and administrators would be liable for penalties for violating the federal mental health parity law under the committee’s portion of the budget bill known as the Build Back Better Act.

Mental health proponents have long been frustrated that health plans haven’t complied with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, and they have called for civil penalties to add teeth to the law.

“They’re trying to give the administration some additional tools to compel ...