Cessation treatment coverage: Parity Legislation vs. the Affordable Care Act – 10/26/10

Q: Have states that are working with insurance providers under the affordable care act to establish cessation treatment coverage received feedback from those providers claiming parity regulations (the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act) as a barrier to treatment? The largest provider of insurance to Arkansans has voiced their opinion as such. Is this situation unique to Arkansas, or are other states are experiencing the same situation?
 
Have insurance providers in your state voiced that parity legislation overrides the recommendations of the affordable care act? If so, can you share what is going on in your state?  Arkansas would love to hear what other issues/problems/solutions are occurring in other states as we work to implement healthcare reform as it pertains to quitline coverage for cessation services.

A:

  1. Alabama: This is not something that has come up here yet.
     
  2. South Dakota: Perhaps these attached documents will be of some assistance:
     
  3. Texas: We haven’t heard anything on this yet, but THANKS for bringing this to our attention.
     
  4. West Virginia: Nothing to report, as yet, from West Virginia on this subject matter.

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Partner Response:

  1. Tobacco Control Legal Consortium, in partnership with the Public Health Law Network: Click here to view TCLN’s commentary on issues related to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (“MHPAEA”) and its treatment of tobacco cessation services as they may relate to cessation coverage questions in Arkansas.
     
  2. Smoking Cessation Leadership Center: We’ve checked with some of our partners at the state and national level, and no one has noted any barriers.

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