CMS Final Medicaid Parity Rule Released: All Plan Types Included

On March 29, 2016, the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final rule on mental health and addiction/substance use disorder treatment parity for state Medicaid programs and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) plans. The rule affects over 23 million people enrolled in Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs), Medicaid alternative benefit plans (ABPs), and CHIP plans; and applies to carve-in and carve-out arrangements. State Medicaid programs, including those that contract with a managed care entity, must comply with the requirements no later than October 2, 2017. ABP coverage offered by states must also . . .