On May 15, 2025, the U.S. Departments of Labor (“DOL”), Health and Human Services (“HHS”), and Treasury (“Departments”) issued a Statement announcing that they will not enforce portions of a final rule relating to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (“MHPAEA”), which was adopted in 2024. This non-enforcement policy will likely be well received by plan sponsors, employers and health plans, many of whom have been critical of additional reporting obligations and unclear guidance from the Departments. Perhaps more significantly, the statement provides that the Departments will reconsider broader issues related to mental health parity, including the Departments’ approach to enforcement of MHPAEA as amended by legislation passed in 2021. The history below provides more context on this recent development.Continue Reading Enforcement of Mental Health Parity Rules Paused with Further Changes Anticipated
