1. Georgetown University National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health TA Conference Call Series Mental Health Parity & Addiction Equity Act February 19, 2009 Pamela Greenberg, MPP President and CEO Association for Behavioral Health & Wellness

2. Agenda Paul Wellstone & Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity & Addiction Equity Act Next Steps -- Regulations

3. Who Does The New Law Apply To Group Health Plans and Health Insurers That Provide Coverage to Group Health Plans (employers with over 50 employees) Medicaid Managed Care Plans State Children’s Health Insurance Program Non-Federal Governmental Plans Federal Employees Health Benefits Plans

4. Summary of the Law Benefits Covered –Mental Health Conditions –Substance Use Disorders Parity Requirement –Financial Requirements –Treatment Limitations

5. Summary of the Law Continued Out-of-Network Benefits Management Transparency Small Employer Exemption Cost Exemption Compliance Report GAO Study Consumer Assistance Enforcement/Regulations State Laws Effective Date

6. What’s Next Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Treasury to Issue Regulations 1 Year After the Date of Enactment RFI – Comment Period; Proposed Rule – Comment Period & Final Rule

7. Areas That May Need Clarifications in Regulations Define No More Restrictive than the Predominant Financial/Treatment Limitations Applied to Substantially All Medical and Surgical Benefits Preemption of State Laws

8. Areas That May Need Clarifications in Regulations Con’t. Management of the Benefit Cost Exemption Separate But Equal Deductibles Does the Law Apply to EAPs Parity Means Equal to or Better than