View Rule

View EO 12866 Meetings Printer-Friendly Version     Download RIN Data in XML
DOL/EBSA RIN: 1210-AA62 Publication ID: Fall 2003 
Title: Mental Health Benefits Parity 
Abstract: The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 (MHPA) was enacted on September 26, 1996 (Pub. L. 104-204). MHPA amended the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), as amended, to provide for parity in the application of certain mental health benefits with limits on medical surgical benefits. These changes were subsequently added to the Internal Revenue Code (the Code). MHPA provisions are set forth in chapter 100 of subtitle K of the Code, title XXVII of the PHS Act, and part 7 of subtitle B of title I of ERISA. On December 2, 2002, President Bush signed H.R. 5716 (Pub. L. 107-313), the Mental Health Parity Reauthorization Act of 2002. This legislation amended ERISA and the PHS Act to further extend MHPA's original sunset date to December 31, 2003 (the Code provisions already contained a sunset date of December 31, 2003). As a result of this statutory amendment, and to assist employers, plan sponsors, health insurance issuers, and workers, the Department of Labor has amended the interim final regulations, in consultation with the Departments of the Treasury and Health and Human Services, conforming the regulatory sunset date to the current statutory sunset date of December 31, 2003. 
Agency: Department of Labor(DOL)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage 
Major: Undetermined  Unfunded Mandates: Undetermined 
CFR Citation: 29 CFR 2590   
Legal Authority: 29 USC 1135    29 USC 1182    29 USC 1194    PL 104-204, 110 Stat. 2944    PL 107-313    29 USC 1027    29 USC 1059    29 USC 1181    29 USC 1183    29 USC 1185   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
Interim Final Rule  12/22/1997  62 FR 66932   
Interim Final Rule Amendment Effective  09/30/2001    
Interim Final Rule Amendment  09/27/2002  67 FR 60859   
Interim Final Rule Amendment Effective  12/02/2002  68 FR 18048   
Interim Final Rule Amendment  04/14/2003  68 FR 18048   
Final Action  03/00/2004    
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
Agency Contact:
Mark Connor
Deputy Director, Office of Health Plan Standards and Compliance Assistance
Department of Labor
Employee Benefits Security Administration
Room C5331, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., FP Building, Room N-5653,
Washington, DC 20210
Phone:202 693-8335
Fax:202 219-1942