NQTLs: A Powerful Measuring Stick For Parity Compliance

Are health plans complying with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA)? It depends. If you look at non-quantitative treatment limits (NQTLs) the answer is no. MHPAEA has parity requirements that are based on both financial requirements (such as copays) and on treatment limitations (the scope or duration of benefits for treatment). Treatment limitations may be quantitative treatment limitations (QTLs) that are numerical in nature (such as visit limits) or non-quantitative treatment limitations (NQTLs), which are non-numerical limits on the scope or duration of benefits for treatment. This is where parity compliance is lacking.

First . . .