WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ten years ago today, President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law. In addition to its main objective of expanding health insurance coverage to 30 million Americans, the reform package also included a number of elements related to psychiatric care, which have ultimately increased access to treatment for people with serious mental illness and substance use disorder.
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) supported the ACA at the time and has monitored its implementation, particularly as it pertains to ensuring mental health and substance use services remain a part of the essential health benefits and that these benefits are provided parity protections offered as part of the health insurance exchanges established by the law. As legal challenges to...
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