Latest news with #MentalHealthParityandAddictionEquityAct
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Michigan Republican presses Chavez-DeRemer to rescind Biden-era labor regulations
House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) is pressing Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer to rescind several former President Biden-era labor regulations to improve, in his view, the lives of workers, job seekers and retirees. Walberg, who was elected as the committee's chair in December, said he is eager to work with the Department of Labor (DOL), Chavez-DeRemer — a former House lawmaker who represented Oregon's 5th Congressional District — and President Trump's administration to 'improve training opportunities for workers, to expand access to health care, and to develop more robust compliance assistance.' 'I encourage DOL to enforce its laws while providing robust compliance assistance to workers and businesses instead of continuing the enforcement-only approach taken by the Biden-Harris administration,' Walberg said Wednesday to Chavez-DeRemer in a letter shared with The Hill. The House Republican, who represents Michigan's 5th Congressional District, outlined several 'burdensome' regulations developed during Biden's term that Chavez-DeRemer needs to rescind or withdraw. One of them, under the Employee Benefits Security Administration, is the fiduciary rule that was finalized last year that specifies it applies 'when fiduciary status is given to a person who gives investment advice for a fee to an investor in a workplace retirement plan (such as a 401(k) plan), an individual retirement account, or other type of retirement plan.' Walberg asked the DOL secretary to rescind the requirements under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, a law that requires health insurance issuers that provide substance use disorder or mental health benefits are not more restrictive than those for surgical benefits. In the three-page letter, the Michigan legislator encouraged Chavez-DeRemer to rescind the Wage and Hour Division's (WHD) final rules on expanding overtime pay protections, prevailing wage overhaul, the minimum wage for federal contractors, nondisplacement of qualified workers under service contracts, independent contractors and tip regulations under the air Labor Standards Act. Two rules under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration — worker walkaround representative designation process and changes to the recordkeeping rule — should also be revoked, according to Walberg's letter. 'The Secretary is eager to work closely with her former colleagues on the Committee to find commonsense solutions that will boost our economy and put American Workers First,' said DOL spokesperson Courtney Parella in an emailed statement to The Hill. Office of Workers Compensation Programs' final rule — RIN 1240-AA16 — related to the self-insurance by coal mine operators should be rescinded, along with the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs' final rule that repealed the rule from the first Trump administration to broaden the religious exemption for federal contractors. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) proposed rules — Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings that require employers to create a plan to evaluate and control heat hazards in their workplace and the Emergency response rule should be shot down, Walberg proposed in the letter. Apart from the rules, Walberg also told the DOL secretary to 'consider' six 'issues of concern' that the Committee on Education and Workforce, which Chavez-DeRemer served on during her single term in the lower chamber, 'raised in previous correspondence' with the department. Those six are the return of federal workers to the office, the use of taxpayer money for 'federal employee unions' priorities,' Employee Benefits Security Administration's 'inefficient, overly aggressive, and limitless enforcement efforts,' the DOL's personnel giving private information to plaintiffs' lawyers, leaking the Bureau of Labor Statistics data and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation 'overpayments to multiemployer pension plans for deceased beneficiaries.' 'In your new role, I encourage you to consider the issues raised in this letter and to remain in proactive contact with the Committee as other agenda items arise,' the Michigan lawmaker said to Chavez-DeRemer in the letter. Chavez-DeRemer, who was confirmed to her post on March 10, shared last week that the DOL employees have to comply with Trump's policies and fulfill the department's mission of protecting 'rights and ensure safe working conditions; ensure proper wages for all American workers; promote employee training; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for job growth; and assure work-related benefits including pensions.' The former Oregon representative said the DOL has to focus on 'fiscal responsibility,' cutting 'unnecessary' spending and optimizing its resources to make sure the funds are 'utilized effectively.' Chavez-DeRemer said the department, which has more than 16,000 workers, has saved $125 million, according to an internal memo the secretary sent to DOL's senior staff obtained by The Hill. 'I urge each of you to conduct a review of your budgets and operations and identify opportunities for cost savings that can be redirected toward initiatives that directly benefit the American worker and businesses that drive our economy,' she said in the March 12 memo. Chavez-DeRemer, in the memo, said she looked forward to meeting 'all of you individually to discuss your agency priorities and how we can collectively advance the Department's mission.' 'I look forward to collaborating to create a positive impact on the lives of millions of workers and their families,' she said in the one-page memo. 'Let's get to work.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
20-03-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Michigan Republican presses Chavez-DeRemer to rescind Biden-era labor regulations
House Committee on Education and Workforce Chairman Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) is pressing the Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer to rescind several former President Biden-era labor regulations to improve, in his view, the lives of workers, job seekers and retirees. Walberg, who was elected as the committee's chairman in December last year, said he is eager to work with DOL, Chavez-DeRemer, a former House lawmaker who represented Oregon's fifth congressional district, and President Trump's administration to 'improve training opportunities for workers, to expand access to health care, and to develop more robust compliance assistance.' 'I encourage DOL to enforce its laws while providing robust compliance assistance to workers and businesses instead of continuing the enforcement-only approach taken by the Biden-Harris administration,' Walberg said in a Wednesday letter to Chavez-DeRemer shared with The Hill. The House Republican, who represents Michigan's fifth Congressional District, outlined several 'burdensome' regulations developed during Biden's term that Chavez-DeRemer needs to rescind or withdraw. One of them, under the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), is the Fiduciary rule that was finalized last year, which specifies that it applies 'when fiduciary status is given to a person who gives investment advice for a fee to an investor in a workplace retirement plan (such as a 401(k) plan), an individual retirement account, or other type of retirement plan.' Walberg asked the DOL secretary to rescind the requirements under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, a law that requires health insurance issuers that provide substance use disorder or mental health benefits are not more restrictive than those for surgical benefits. In the 3-page letter, the Michigan legislator encouraged Chavez-DeRemer to rescind the Wage and Hour Division's (WHD) final rules on expanding overtime pay protections, prevailing wage overhaul, the minimum wage for federal contractors, non-displacement of qualified workers under service contracts, independent contractors and tip regulations under the air Labor Standards Act. Two rules under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration – worker walkaround representative designation process and changes to the recordkeeping rule – should also be revoked, according to Walberg's letter. 'The Secretary is eager to work closely with her former colleagues on the Committee to find commonsense solutions that will boost our economy and put American Workers First,' said DOL spokesperson Courtney Parella in an emailed statement to The Hill. Office of Workers Compensation Programs' final rule – RIN 1240-AA16 – related to the self-insurance by coal mine operators should be rescinded, along with the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs' final rule that repealed the rule from the first Trump administration to broaden the religious exemption for federal contractors. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) proposed rules – Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings that require employers to create a plan to evaluate and control heat hazards in their workplace and the Emergency response rule should be shot down, Walberg proposed in the letter. Apart from the rules, Walberg also told the DOL secretary to 'consider' six 'issues of concern' that the Committee on Education and Workforce, which Chavez-DeRemer served on during her single term in the lower chamber, 'raised in previous correspondence' with the department. Those six are the return of federal workers to the office, the use of taxpayer money for 'federal employee unions' priorities,' Employee Benefits Security Administration's 'inefficient, overly aggressive, and limitless enforcement efforts,' the DOL's personnel giving private information to plaintiffs' lawyers, leaking the Bureau of Labor Statistics data and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation 'overpayments to multiemployer pension plans for deceased beneficiaries.' 'In your new role, I encourage you to consider the issues raised in this letter and to remain in proactive contact with the Committee as other agenda items arise,' the Michigan lawmaker said to Chavez-DeRemer in the letter. Chavez-DeRemer, who was confirmed to her post on March 10, shared last week that the DOL employees have to comply with Trump's policies and fulfill the department's mission of protecting 'rights and ensure safe working conditions; ensure proper wages for all American workers; promote employee training; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for job growth; and assure work-related benefits including pensions.' The former Oregon representative said the DOL has to focus on 'fiscal responsibility,' cutting 'unnecessary' spending and optimizing its resources to make sure the funds are 'utilized effectively.' Chavez-DeRemer said the department, which has over 16,000 workers, has saved $125 million, according to an internal memo the secretary sent to DOL's senior staff obtained by The Hill. 'I urge each of you to conduct a review of your budgets and operations and identify opportunities for cost savings that can be redirected toward initiatives that directly benefit the American worker and businesses that drive our economy,' she said in the March 12 memo. Chavez-DeRemer, in the memo, said she looked forward to meeting 'all of you individually to discuss your agency priorities and how we can collectively advance the Department's mission.' 'I look forward to collaborating to create a positive impact on the lives of millions of workers and their families,' she said in the one-page memo. 'Let's get to work.'
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What mental health parity means for your insurance coverage
In the past, many health insurance plans didn't cover mental or behavioral health treatments. This is because these services weren't viewed as healthcare in the same way that things like having surgery or getting an X-ray might be. The result was that many people couldn't access critical support from therapists, psychiatrists, or other mental health professionals. Paying out of pocket for mental healthcare can be costly, and many people simply can't afford out-of-network providers or treatments. However, thanks to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, today there are more protections for mental healthcare benefits. Rula shares information to help you learn more about your rights under this legislation and how they can help you and your family use your health insurance to access the mental healthcare you deserve. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 requires health insurance plans to provide coverage for mental healthcare that's similar to the coverage they provide for physical healthcare. Most health plans are legally required to ensure that copays, visit limits, and prior authorization processes for mental healthcare are comparable to those for physical healthcare. If you're concerned that your health plan isn't meeting parity requirements or has incorrectly denied coverage, you can file an appeal through your insurance provider's appeals process. You can also ask for help from your healthcare provider or a patient advocate, or you can contact your state's insurance department or the U.S. Department of Labor for assistance. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act required insurance companies to change the way they cover mental healthcare. Some of the protections the legislation provides include: Your copays for mental health or substance use treatment must be similar in cost to copays for physical healthcare. Health insurance plans can't limit the number of times you receive outpatient mental healthcare within a benefit period (i.e., the number of times you go to therapy) if they don't have similar limits on the number of times you can access outpatient physical healthcare. If your health insurance plan requires prior authorization for mental health or substance use treatment, it must be comparable to those for physical health services. The parity law requires most health plans to include mental health benefits, including: Employer-sponsored health plans for employers with over 51 employees The federal employee health benefits program Medicaid-managed care plans State children's health insurance programs Some state and local government health plans All health plans purchased through the health insurance marketplace (also referred to as ACA plans) Most individual and group health plans purchased outside the health insurance marketplaces While there are some exceptions, under the Mental Health Parity Act, most health plans are required to cover: Outpatient mental and behavioral health treatment (i.e., therapy or counseling) Inpatient mental and behavioral health treatment (i.e., partial hospitalization programs) Substance use disorder (SUD) treatment programs (also referred to as rehab or addiction treatment) Care for all pre-existing mental health conditions, with access starting on the day coverage begins (no waiting period for individual or small group plans under the Affordable Care Act) Before accessing mental healthcare, it's important to understand your coverage so you can anticipate what costs you might be responsible for. If you have questions about your benefits, reach out to your insurer and ask for an explanation of your coverage for mental health services. There's usually an 800 number on the back of your insurance card you can call. If your health insurance company has denied coverage for mental healthcare, the following signs could indicate that it's not following the parity law, and you may have the legal right to demand payment or compensation. The cost of mental health services is much higher than physical health services under your plan. You're entitled to fewer covered mental healthcare appointments than physical health appointments. You've been denied coverage for mental healthcare because your plan deemed that it wasn't a "medical necessity." However, the insurer isn't able to provide the criteria it used to make that determination. There are plenty of in-network providers for physical healthcare. But your plan has few, if any, in-network mental or behavioral healthcare providers. Your plan doesn't cover inpatient mental health, substance use treatment, or intensive outpatient care. But it does cover that level of care for other health conditions. If you suspect that your health plan isn't following the parity law, start by contacting your insurer to discuss your concerns. They might be willing to give you more details about why your claim was denied. If you still think your plan might be in violation of parity requirements, contact your insurer's customer relations department to initiate a formal appeal. Follow each step of your insurer's appeals process and be sure to save copies of all the documentation you submit. If you need additional support, you can also use this guide to help fight coverage denials for mental healthcare from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. You can also ask for help from your healthcare insurers' patient advocate or contact your state's insurance department or the U.S. Department of Labor for assistance. This story was produced by Rula and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
