(Period Covered: 1/1/2003 through 1/1/2009)

Policy Description

Note: The secondary literature and the laws and regulations related to this policy topic use a variety of terms that are sometimes used in different ways by different jurisdictions.  To see definitions for these terms as they are used in APIS, choose the link to Definitions on the right side of this page.

Parity for treatment of alcohol-related disorders refers to State and Federal requirements that health plans provide the same levels of benefits for these disorders as they do for medical and surgical conditions. "The same" may be defined in terms of deductibles, co-payments, or other types of cost sharing; annual or lifetime service limits; annual or lifetime payouts; or any combination of these. Some jurisdictions have adopted parity provisions that specifically apply to alcohol-related disorders. Other jurisdictions have parity provisions for general mental health care or substance abuse disorders, either of which may or may not include alcohol-related disorders. APIS addresses only those laws that pertain specifically to parity for treatment of alcohol-related disorders.

Parity laws are a relatively recent development. When health care costs began rising sharply in the 1970s and 1980s, many health plans tightened coverage for mental health care. By the early 1990s, significant disparities had emerged between medical and surgical coverage and mental health coverage, often including coverage for alcohol-related disorders or any type of substance abuse.  In response, the Federal government and many States have passed legislation requiring some type of parity.

Email a link to this page: http://alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/Parity