Ayotte welcomes report on treatment of mental health, substance use disorder

A report on the parity of mental health and substance use disorder treatment has been released in response to efforts led by U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) over the last year.

The Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force reports on federal laws that require insurance coverage for mental health and substance use disorder treatment be no more restrictive than other forms of medical treatment. In its report, the task force provided recommendations on how to better enforce and ensure compliance with the parity law.

“Often, mental health and substance use disorders can be co-occurring, making access to treatment even more important,” Ayotte said. “Yet, I’ve heard first-hand from too many individuals in New Hampshire who are living with a mental health or substance use disorder, and the loved ones of those who are struggling, that parity is still not a reality.”

As part of its report, the task force sought to clarify how the law applies to medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.

“Recognizing that a substance use disorder is a disease and should be treated in the same manner as a physical injury is key to combating the opioid abuse epidemic facing our state and nation,” Ayotte said.

In response to New Hampshire’s growing opioid abuse epidemic, Ayotte requested a review of implementation and enforcement of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) last year in a letter to the Government Accountability Office.

Ayotte also led a bipartisan call last year for the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor to take immediate action to implement and enforce MHPAEA.

Furthermore, in July 2015, Ayotte joined U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) in introducing the bipartisan Anna Westin Act. The bill clarifies that the parity law applies to residential treatment for eating disorders, among other things.