The United States Senate releases their bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, (ACA). Click below to see the "Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017”.

https://www.budget.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/SENATEHEALTHCARE.pdf

Court reverses reduction of out-of-network reimbursement rate

(Wayne, New Jersey) September 5, 2013 -- The New Jersey Society for Clinical Social Work (NJSCSW)/OPEIU Guild 49 has won its legal action against the State Employees Health Benefits Plan (Horizon BCBS) for lowering their rate of reimbursement to out-of-network practitioners back in January 2009.  

The NJ State Appellate Division has decided that the lowering of reimbursement rates by the SHBP and Horizon was done in violation of N.J.S.A.52:14-17.46.7.  

Questions and Answers

1. What does the new federal parity act do?

The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act will end health insurance benefits inequity between mental health/substance use disorders and medical/surgical benefits for group health plans with more than 50 employees.

Under this law, a group health plan of 50 or more employees that provides both physical and mental health/substance use benefits must ensure that all financial requirements and treatment limitations applicable to mental health/substance use disorder benefits are no more restrictive than those requirements and limitations placed on physical benefits.