Trump administration outlines new mental health parity enforcement guidance

Debbie Witchey: Debbie Witchey is President and CEO of the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness, which represents health plans managing behavioral health benefits. She has described the Department of Labor's recent parity guidance as helpful for providing plans with a clearer roadmap on enforcement focus areas. Witchey brings extensive experience in health policy advocacy and stakeholder engagement. Patrick Kennedy: Patrick Kennedy is a former U.S. Representative and co-founder of the Kennedy Forum, a leading advocacy organization for mental health and substance use disorder policy. He has long championed parity in insurance coverage for behavioral health services and engages in ongoing efforts to improve access and outcomes. Kennedy participates in policy discussions highlighting disparities in care access. Daniel Aronowitz: Daniel Aronowitz serves as Assistant Secretary for the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, leading efforts on employee benefits and health plan oversight. He authored the September 8, 2026 directive detailing the agency's approach to mental health parity enforcement, emphasizing clarity for stakeholders. Aronowitz focuses on practical enforcement that supports access to benefits without unnecessary compliance burdens. Department of Labor: The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration oversees enforcement of mental health parity requirements under federal law. In September 2026, it released Field Assistance Bulletin guidance outlining enforcement priorities for nonquantitative treatment limitations in health plans. The department seeks fair and even-handed application of parity rules while addressing gaps in behavioral health coverage. Trump administration: The Trump administration is currently prioritizing enforcement of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act through targeted guidance rather than broad compliance mandates from prior years. It issued interim enforcement priorities via the Department of Labor in September 2026 to clarify focus areas for health plans. This approach aims to balance access to behavioral health benefits with practical compliance for employers and insurers. Regulatory Direction: The Trump administration is rejecting certain Biden-era compliance reporting requirements for mental health parity while advancing a new proposed regulation expected by the end of 2026. Enforcement Priorities: The Department of Labor is focusing its mental health parity reviews on areas such as blanket exclusions, medical necessity standards, and network adequacy standards for behavioral health services. Stakeholder Perspectives: Advocacy groups and employers note ongoing disparities in access to behavioral health services compared to physical health coverage, along with calls for clearer compliance standards.