Updates to Massachusetts Mental Health Parity Law—Effective July 1, 2009

The Massachusetts Mental Health Parity Law requires insurers who offer mental health benefits to cover the diagnosis and treatment of certain mental disorders to the same extent that they cover the diagnosis and treatment of physical conditions.

Massachusetts took its first step toward Mental Health Parity in 2000 by requiring unlimited medically necessary coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of the following conditions:

• Schizophrenia
• Schizoaffective disorder
• Major depressive disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Paranoia and other psychotic disorders
• Obsessive compulsive disorder
• Delirium and dementia
• Affective disorders

What Will Change
Effective July 1, 2009, Massachusetts will expand the Mental Health Parity Law to add the medically necessary diagnosis and treatment of the following disorders to list of those requiring unlimited coverage:

• Eating disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Substance abuse
• Autism

Please note: The Mental Health Parity Law applies to members who are enrolled in products underwritten by Tufts Health Plan (fully insured plans). The law does not apply to members enrolled in self-insured group plans, although some self-insured plans may choose to implement parity.

For members of plans to which the Mental Health Parity Law applies, the expanded law will be effective on the member’s first renewal date on or after July 1, 2009.

If you have questions, please call the Tufts Health Plan Mental Health Department at (800) 208-9565.