How did the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 differ from the MPHA?

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 significantly advanced the requirements for mental health and substance use disorder treatment by extending parity rules to include substance abuse disorders. This was a crucial step because it mandated that benefits for mental health and substance use disorders could not be more restrictive than those for medical and surgical benefits. Prior to this Act, many plans provided limited coverage for substance use disorders compared to physical health conditions. By including substance abuse disorders under the parity requirements, the Act sought to improve access to necessary treatments and ensure that individuals suffering from these conditions received care comparable to that offered for physical health issues.

In this context, the other options do not accurately reflect the Act's provisions. For instance, rather than eliminating substance abuse from parity requirements, the Act specifically emphasized their inclusion. While the Act did indeed aim to create more equitable treatment options, it did not allow for less restrictive treatment limitations compared to medical and surgical benefits; in fact, it enforced parity in treatment limits. Additionally, the Act applied to a broad range of employers, including those that may be considered smaller, rather than exempting small employers from its requirements.