CMS releases long-awaited final rule to apply federal parity to Medicaid, CHIP.

MENTAL health laws; MENTAL health services; SUBSTANCE abuse treatment; TREATMENT programs; POLICY sciences; MENTAL health; MEDICAID; CENTERS for Medicare & Medicaid Services (U.S.); PARITY (Obstetrics); ECONOMICS; PSYCHOLOGY

The article focuses on the release by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on March 29, 2016 of its final rule to apply provisions of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 to Medicaid beneficiaries and to the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Topics covered include the issuance of a memorandum for the creation of a Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Task Force and the opportunities to improve parity for behavioral health care.