DOL · HHS · Treasury

Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA)

Federal law requiring parity between mental health and substance use disorder benefits and medical/surgical benefits in health plans.

At a glance

Short name
MHPAEA
Issuing / stewarding body
DOL, HHS, Treasury
Jurisdiction
US
Also known as / related labels
ERISA · ACA · 2013 MHPAEA Final Rules · 2024 MHPAEA Final Rule (new provisions under nonenforcement) · CAA, 2021 NQTL comparative analyses

What this entry covers

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) and its regulations bar a group health plan, or group health insurance coverage, that provides both medical/surgical and mental health or substance use disorder benefits from applying financial requirements or treatment limitations to mental health or substance use disorder benefits that are more restrictive than the predominant ones applied to substantially all medical/surgical benefits. The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury issue its regulations jointly.

MyRHC indexes this framework so practitioners, auditors, and automated agents can find the authoritative primary sources in one place. This page is a navigation aid. It is not legal advice and is not a substitute for the official text.

Official documentation

Recent changes

  • 2025-05-15: DOL, HHS and the Treasury announced they will not enforce the portions of the 2024 final rule that are new relative to the 2013 final rule for failures occurring before a final decision in the ERISA Industry Committee litigation plus 18 months. The statute and the 2013 final rule remain in effect. DOL
  • 2024-09-23: The Departments published a final rule amending the MHPAEA regulations, including nonquantitative treatment limitation (NQTL) requirements and the comparative analyses required by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Federal Register

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Index only — not legal advice. MyRHC does not certify compliance. Confirm current requirements with the issuing authority and qualified counsel. Proprietary standards text remains with its publisher.