Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Implementation of a Real-Time Psychosis Risk Detection and Alerting System Based on Electronic Health Records using CogStack
Published on: May 15, 2020
A tale of two states: do consumers see mental health insurance parity when shopping on state exchanges?
Kelsey N Berry1, Haiden A Huskamp1, Howard H Goldman1
1Ms. Berry is in the doctoral program in Health Policy and Ethics, Harvard University, Boston (e-mail: kelseyberry@fas.harvard.edu). Dr. Huskamp is with the Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston. Dr. Goldman, who is editor of Psychiatric Services, is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore. Dr. Barry is with the Department of Health Policy and Management and the Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore. Steven S. Sharfstein, M.D., Dr. Huskamp, and Alison Evans Cuellar, Ph.D., are editors of this column.
Abstract:
All insurance products sold on the health insurance exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act are required to offer mental health and substance use disorder benefits in compliance with requirements of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). This column identifies two dimensions of parity compliance that consumers observe while shopping for insurance products offered on two state-run exchanges. The authors discuss a number of apparent discrepancies with the requirements of MHPAEA in these observable dimensions, emphasizing the potential impact of these factors on consumers' decisions about plan enrollment. The analysis reveals a nuanced picture of how insurance issuers are presenting behavioral health benefits to potential enrollees and illustrates broader concerns about parity compliance and the potential for selection on the exchanges. Four specific discrepancies are highlighted as areas for further evaluation.
Related Concept Videos
Standards of Care II
Concepts of Health and Illness
Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Introduction To Health Care Delivery System
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) advocates for a patient-centered, effective, safe, timely, equitable, and effective healthcare system. The National Priorities...
Healthcare Agencies II
Parish nursing is a growing specialty nursing profession that focuses on holistic healthcare, health promotion, and illness prevention. It blends professional nursing practice with a health ministry, focusing on health and healing within the context of a Christian community. Parish nurses serve as health educators, referral sources,...
Health Information Technology and Healthcare Information System
Health Information Technology, commonly called HIT, integrates advanced information systems and technology in healthcare settings. Its primary functions include:

