Project Description
Evaluation of Parity in the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program
RAND PI's: Audrey Burnam and Susan Ridgely
The Federal Employee Health Benefit Program (FEHBP) is one of the largest employer-sponsored health insurance programs in the nation, serving over 8.6 million Federal employees, annuitants, and their dependents through contracts with 294 carriers, health plans, and specialty insuring organizations. Beginning in January 2001, under executive order, FEHBP will begin offering parity health insurance coverage for mental health and substance abuse services. While mental health and substance abuse services have historically been subject to stricter benefit limits and higher beneficiary cost-sharing than general medical services, the parity mandate requires plans to provide coverage for mental health and substance abuse services that is equivalent to general medical coverage with respect to deductibles, copayments, and limits on visits and inpatient days. RAND, in partnership with ROW Sciences, Harvard Medical School, and Westat, has received a federal contract to conduct an evaluation of parity in FEHBP. The evaluation will examine changes in access to and use of services, beneficiary satisfaction and quality of care, costs of care, and will also document the response of health plans and their vendors (managed behavioral health organizations) in their implementation of parity.
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