Biden Administration Finalizes New Regulation to Expand Access to Mental Health Care

(WIB) – The Biden administration announced it had finalized a regulation that would ensure 175 million Americans with private health insurance have access to affordable mental health services, one that would force health insurance companies to cover mental health ailments alongside physical health.The regulation comes as a federal government crackdown on insurance plans not adequately catering to those suffering from anxiety, depression, and addiction.The administration agrees that the mental health and substance use disorder crises, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, disproportionately impact marginalized communities.“There is no reason that breaking your arm should be treated differently than having a mental health condition. The steps my administration is taking today will dramatically expand access to mental health care in America,” President Joe Biden said in a statement.Are Existing Regulations Working?The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, despite being a bipartisan priority, did not increase access to treatment or decrease the cost of mental health care. Advocates find a lack of insurer compliance and attribute lax enforcement policies.“For over a year, we’ve been telling the Biden-Harris administration that these rules will not work. They are too vague and burdensome; they overregulate instead of allowing health plans to build robust networks;...