Does Georgia’s Mental Health Parity Law mean that all policies have to cover treatment for mental illnesses and addictions?
Contact North Atlanta Behavioral Health today to begin mental health treatment in Georgia.
What Is the Georgia Mental Health Parity Law?
The Georgia Mental Health Parity Act (HB1013) was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on April 4, 2022, and went into effect on July 1. The legislation, which received bipartisan support, brought the state into alignment with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), a federal law that was passed in 2008.
Features of the Georgia law include:
- Most private insurance companies and all Medicaid insurers are required to cover mental and behavioral health treatment at the same level that they cover medical services. This means that co-pays, deductibles, prior authorizations, and other elements must be the same for mental, behavioral, and medical treatment.
- Insurers must ensure equal access to mental health and addiction services through in-network providers.
- Insurers must submit annual reports to document compliance with the parity law.
The law also created:
- A multi-agency treatment for children team (MATCH): This team is part of the state’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD). Its purpose is to promote collaboration among state agencies to ensure that young people with complex behavioral health conditions get the help they need.
- Behavioral Health Professions Service Cancelable Loan Program (BHP SCL): This program allows students who are enrolled in an eligible behavioral health advanced degree program at certain private and public universities in Georgia to apply for up to $20,000 in student loans per year. If they graduate, earn a license or credential, and meet program requirements, they can qualify to have all or most of their loans canceled.
What Types of Treatment Are Insurers Required to Cover?
To align with the federal MHPAEA, the Georgia Mental Health Parity Act applies to the following types of treatment:
- Inpatient in-network
- Inpatient out-of-network
- Outpatient in-network
- Outpatient out-of-network
- Emergency
- Prescription drug
It is important to note that both the federal law and the Georgia law are designed to ensure parity, not to require coverage for specific services. This means that it doesn’t force insurers to provide certain programs or types of treatment for people with mental or behavioral health disorders.
Instead, the Georgia law mandates that, if an insurer covers mental and behavioral healthcare, that coverage must be equal to the coverage provided for medical services.
The parity among these various types of care must include:
- Determinations of medical necessity
- Standards for providers to become in-network
- Reimbursement rates
- Criteria for determining reasonable charges for out-of-network services
- Standards for giving policyholders access to out-of-network providers
- Limits on scope or duration of benefits based on geography, provider specialty, type of facility, or other criteria
So, for example, if an insurance plan covers inpatient medical treatment, it must also cover inpatient care for mental health concerns and addictions. The same applies to outpatient treatment, emergency services, and prescription medications.
Generally speaking, most major private insurance companies and public programs such as Medicaid cover the following options for people with mental health disorders and addictions:
- Detox
- Inpatient and residential treatment
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
- Outpatient therapy
Of course, the extent of coverage can vary from company to company and policy to policy. If you have any questions about what type of mental and behavioral health services your insurance plan will or will not cover, you should visit your insurer’s member portal or call their helpline.
If you would like to use your insurance to cover treatment at North Atlanta Behavioral Health, we can coordinate directly with your company to confirm your coverage and verify your benefits.
We understand that navigating insurance paperwork can be challenging, especially when you or a loved one is in crisis, and we’re happy to provide this service once you authorize us to communicate with your insurer on your behalf.
Has the Georgia Mental Health Parity Law Been Successful?
Four years after the Georgia Mental Health Parity Law went into effect, assessments of its success have been mixed. Compliance and enforcement are two areas that have met with criticism.
In an April 23, 2026, WABE article, attorney Roland Behm said that “Georgia’s law is the model. It is the best state parity act that’s out there.”
However, Behm, who is a cofounder of the Georgia Mental Health Policy Partnership, noted that not all insurers are adhering to the law.
“We’re not getting the enforcement we need,” he added. “But once we get that enforcement, we will show you how to solve all of these things.”
As evidence that many insurers are not yet meeting the mandates established in the parity law, Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced in January 2026 that he had issued nearly $25 million in fines to noncompliant companies.
Also, the nonprofit advocacy organization Georgians for a Healthy Future (GHF) has created an online dashboard so that consumers can track how well insurance companies are complying with both the Georgia law and the federal requirements.
The dashboard currently features compliance assessments for several commercial and small-group plans, including Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Humana, as well as public options such as Georgia Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids.
Find Mental Health Treatment in Atlanta
If you have been struggling with a mental health disorder or an addiction, North Atlanta Behavioral Health is here for you.
Treatment options at our outpatient rehab in Atlanta, GA, include a PHP and an IOP. In each program, you can expect to receive personalized care and comprehensive support from a team of skilled professionals who are truly invested in your success. Working together, we can help you find your path toward a healthier and more hopeful future.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
