Washington, D.C. — The American Psychiatric Association applauds the Biden-Harris Administration for taking action to increase transparency and hold health plans accountable to the requirements of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA).

For far too long and despite efforts from the federal and state governments, many insurers have treated mental health as an afterthought to physical health, leaving patients and families dealing with mental health and addiction issues scrambling to find affordable care, or going without. Today’s actions from the White House to bolster and strengthen enforcement of the nearly 15-year-old mental health parity law are important steps toward ensuring more Americans who need these services can access them.

American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in the country. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 38,000 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and research of mental illnesses. APA’s vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. For more information, please visit www.psychiatry.org.