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ASAM Advocates for Comprehensive Coverage of MH/SUD Treatment and Patient Choice in Service Delivery
In June, ASAM and stakeholders opposed the Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act of 2023 (H.R. 824), in letters to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the U.S. House of Representatives' Committees on Education & the Workforce and Energy & Commerce. The legislation, which would allow employers to offer workers stand-alone telehealth benefits, would exclude options for in-person mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) treatment, and limit an individual's ability to choose the services most appropriate for their needs. Furthermore, the legislation would weaken fundamental parity and coverage protections by allowing plans to cover a limited set of services, and ultimately likely preclude individuals from obtaining needed in-person MH/SUD treatment.