Application of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act to Medicaid MCOs, CHIP, and Alternative Benefit (Benchmark) Plans

This document is about guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on the application of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) requirements to Medicaid managed care organizations, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicaid Alternative Benefit plans. It explains the legislative history of MHPAEA, its key requirements, and how these parity provisions must be applied across different Medicaid and CHIP delivery systems and benefit plan types.