Mental Health Parity

Originally published October 2, 2017.
Last updated September 9, 2019.

In March of 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a rule to strengthen access to mental health and substance use disorder services for persons enrolled in TennCare and CoverKids.

In summary, the rule requires states to ensure that limits are not placed on access to mental health or substance use disorder benefits that are not similarly applied to medical/surgical services. In order to ensure that inappropriate limits are not placed on these services, the Division of TennCare was required to work with its managed care organizations (MCOs) and other contractors to conduct a parity analysis.

Mental Health Parity

The Division of TennCare will continue to monitor compliance with mental health parity requirements to ensure equitable access to mental health and substance use disorder service for individuals enrolled in TennCare and CoverKids.