This bill significantly strengthens the enforcement of mental health and substance use disorder parity requirements by establishing civil monetary penalties for violations. It amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to allow the Secretary to impose these penalties on plan sponsors, service providers, and administrators of group health plans who fail to meet parity standards. To support these enhanced enforcement efforts, the Act appropriates $30,000,000 annually to the Employee Benefits Security Administration for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. This funding is specifically designated for carrying out the enforcement of mental health parity laws, including those established by this Act and the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.
This bill significantly strengthens the enforcement of mental health and substance use disorder parity requirements by establishing civil monetary penalties for violations. It amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to allow the Secretary to impose these penalties on plan sponsors, service providers, and administrators of group health plans who fail to meet parity standards. To support these enhanced enforcement efforts, the Act appropriates $30,000,000 annually to the Employee Benefits Security Administration for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. This funding is specifically designated for carrying out the enforcement of mental health parity laws, including those established by this Act and the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.