The Trump administration announced it will not enforce the 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. The act mandates equivalent insurance coverage for mental health and substance use disorders as compared with medical and surgical care. The administration is considering rescinding the rule altogether, according to a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) court filing. The move is a response to a lawsuit filed in January by the ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC), ERISA Industry Committee v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services et al., U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, No. 25-00136, in which ERIC argues the rule limits employers’ ability to offer affordable benefits. The DOJ asked the court to pause the case while federal agencies reconsider the rule and ERIC agreed, reserving the right to resume the case. The Trump administration’s filing raises concerns about potential impacts on access to mental health care for Americans.
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