KEAN INTRODUCES LANDMARK BILL TO PUT MENTAL HEALTH CARE ON EQUAL FOOTING WITH PHYSICAL HEALTH CARE

The following information was released by the office of New Jersey Rep. Tom Kean, Jr.:

This week, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) introduced the Mental Health Parity Enforcement and Funding Act, legislation that would provide the U.S. Department of Labor the authority to investigate and hold insurers and plan sponsors accountable for offering health plans that are in violation of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Actof 2008and extend supplementalfunding for the Employee Benefits Security Administration to enforce the provisions.

"I have always been a supporter of mental health care. During my time in the New Jersey Legislature, I worked to advance mental health parity. I believed in the cause then," said Congressman Kean. "I understand it in a far more personal way now. I am proud to help lead this fight in Congress."

Background:

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008requires that insurance plans provide the same level of coverage for mental health and substance-use disorders as they do for physical health services.

In January, Congressman Kean advocated for the restoration of federal funding for vital substance abuse and mental health treatment services after New Jersey organizations raised concerns about the potential loss of key grants. These efforts helped lead to the reversal of a decision that would have placed thousands of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grants at risk.

While in the New Jersey Senate, Congressman Kean sponsored legislation that requires health insurers to provide coverage for mental health conditions and substance-use disorders under the same terms and conditions as provided for any other sickness. Insurance carriers now have to submit an annual report to the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance that demonstrates their compliance with the mental health parity laws. The legislation was signed into law by Governor Murphy in 2019.