MEDIA ADVISORY
9 August 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Georgia Mental Health Policy Partnership
Press Conference on Health Care Parity in Georgia Seeking Transparency and Accountability from
Georgia’s Health Insurers
What if health insurance coverage was dependent on the illness? Imagine if one could access medical care for cancer, but not for diabetes or sickle cell anemia?
What: The Georgia Mental Health Policy Partnership press conference on Behavioral Health Care Parity. The Georgia Mental Health Policy Partnership and Substance Use Disorder Community join together to present on Behavioral Health Care Parity based on the Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission recommendations.
When: Monday, 16 August, 2021, 10:00 AM EST
Where: South Wing Steps inside Georgia State Capitol
Who: The Georgia Mental Health Policy Partnership and Substance Use Disorder Community Coalition is comprised of 11 advocacy organizations serving people affected by mental health and caretakers representing the largest constituency of Georgians in the public policy community.
Why: The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) is a federal law that generally prevents group health plans and health insurance issuers that provide mental health or substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits from imposing less favorable benefit limitations on those benefits than on medical/surgical benefits. This federal law is not being enforced in Georgia.
Georgians face discrimination as they attempt to access behavioral health treatment – treatment for mental illnesses and substance use disorders – they face barriers they do not face accessing other medical care. Insurance plans impose limitations on accessing behavioral health benefits that are not in place for non-behavioral medical benefits.
For Additional Information:
Jeff Breedlove
Chief of Policy and Communications
Georgia Council on Substance Abuse
404-615-5735
