Final Rule Complicates Compliance for Employers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          Contact: Amanda Beck
September 10, 2024                                                                                         [email protected]

Final Rule Complicates Compliance for Employers 

HR Policy Association warns that unrealistic expectations on employers ignore proven solutions and systemic issues like provider shortages

WASHINGTON, D.C. – HR Policy Association, the premier organization representing the chief human resource officers of nearly 400 of the largest private sector employers globally, expresses concern that the final mental health parity rule released yesterday, places unrealistic expectations on employers to provide access to mental health despite a nationwide shortage of providers.

Noting the commitment HR Policy Association’s member companies to providing mental health services to their employees, President and CEO Timothy J. Bartl commented, “Large employers have implemented many benefits to improve employee wellbeing, including access to behavioral health. While HR Policy recognizes the administration’s efforts on this important issue, the final rule makes it more difficult for employers to offer high-quality, low-cost behavioral health care—the opposite of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act’s intent.”

While the final rule does reflect modifications consistent with stakeholder feedback, some of the rule’s provisions are misguided in their approach such as placing access mandates on employers that they are unable to fulfill based on the shortage of mental health providers. 

HR Policy Association is continuing its review of the rule and will release a detailed analysis soon. “One thing is clear,” Mr. Bartl said, “addressing the current mental health care crisis and achieving mental health parity compliance will require significant efforts in partnership between employers, providers, government, patient groups and other stakeholders. We would welcome the opportunity to provide practical insight based on our members’ experiences to rule makers.”

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HR Policy Association is the lead organization representing chief human resource officers of major employers. The Association consists of nearly 400 of the largest corporations doing business in the United States and globally, and these employers are represented in the organization by their most senior human resource executive. Collectively, their companies employ more than 11 million employees in the United States, over nine percent of the private sector workforce, and 20 million employees worldwide. They have a combined market capitalization of more than $8 trillion. These senior corporate officers participate in the Association because of their commitment to improving the direction of human resource policy. Their objective is to use the combined power of the membership to act as a positive influence to better public policy, the HR marketplace, and the human resource profession. For more information visit www.hrpolicy.org.