Parity Enforcement Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-1364
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1]
Introduced: 2021-02-25
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies

Department of Labor

Disability and health-based discrimination

Drug, alcohol, tobacco use

Employee benefits and pensions

Genetics

Health care coverage and access

Health information and medical records

Mental health
Latest action: action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-02-25
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Parity Enforcement Act of 20</b><strong>21</strong><br> <br> This bill provides authority for the Department of Labor to enforce the parity requirements for group health plans with respect to the coverage of mental health and substance use disorder benefits.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1364 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 25, 2021 Mr. Norcross (for himself, Mr. Courtney , Mr. Fitzpatrick , and Ms. Kuster ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor A BILL To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to strengthen parity in mental health and substance use disorder benefits, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Parity Enforcement Act of 2021 . 2. Authorizing enforcement authority for mental health and substance use disorder benefits (a) In general Section 502(c)(10)(A) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( 29 U.S.C. 1132(c)(10)(A) ) is amended by striking for any failure and all that follows through in connection with the plan and inserting for any failure by such sponsor or issuer, in connection with the plan— (i) to meet the requirements of subsection (a)(1)(F), (b)(3), (c), or (d) of section 702 or section 701 or 702(b)(1) with respect to genetic information; or (ii) to meet the requirements of subsection (a) of section 712 with respect to parity in mental health and substance use disorder benefits. . (b) Technical and conforming amendments Section 502 of such Act ( 29 U.S.C. 1132 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(6), by striking or (9) and inserting (9), or (10) ; (2) in subsection (b)(3)— (A) by striking subsections (c)(9) and (a)(6) and inserting subsections (c)(9), (c)(10), and (a)(6) ; (B) by striking under subsection (c)(9) and inserting under subsections (c)(9) and (c)(10) ; and (C) by striking 706(a)(1) and inserting 733(a)(1) ; and (3) in subsection (c)(10) in the heading, by striking use of genetic information and inserting use of genetic information and parity in mental health and substance use disorder benefits . (c) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to group health plans for plan years beginning after the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.