1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Parity Enforcement Act of 2019”.
Parity Enforcement Act of 2019
A BILL
To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to strengthen parity in mental health and substance use disorder benefits, and for other purposes.
2. Authorizing enforcement authority for mental health and substance use disorder benefits
In general— Section 502(c)(10)(A) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1132(c)(10)(A)) is amended by striking “for any failure” and all that follows through “in connection with the plan” and inserting
“(i) to meet the requirements of subsection (a)(1)(F), (b)(3), (c), or (d) of section 702 or section 701 or 702(b)(1) with respect to genetic information; or
“(ii) to meet the requirements of subsection (a) of section 712 with respect to parity in mental health and substance use disorder benefits.”
in subsection (a)(6), by striking “or (9)” and inserting “(9), or (10)”;
in subsection (b)(3)—
by striking “subsections (c)(9) and (a)(6)” and inserting “subsections (c)(9), (c)(10), and (a)(6)”;
by striking “under subsection (c)(9)” and inserting “under subsections (c)(9) and (c)(10)”; and
by striking “706(a)(1)” and inserting “733(a)(1)”; and
in subsection (c)(10) in the heading, by striking “use of genetic information” and inserting “use of genetic information and parity in mental health and substance use disorder benefits”.
Effective date— The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to group health plans for plan years beginning after the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.