CMS has released its final rule to apply provisions of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) to Medicaid beneficiaries who receive services through managed care organizations or alternative benefit plans and to the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  In general, the rule provides that financial requirements (e.g., copayments, coinsurance) and treatment limitations (e.g., visit limits) applicable to mental health and substance use disorder benefits generally are no more restrictive than requirements and limitations applicable to medical and surgical benefits in these programs.  In a change from the proposed rule, the final rule extends the parity protections to long term care services for mental health and substance use disorders in the same manner that they are applied to other services for these conditions.  The final rule also requires plans to disclose information on mental health and substance use disorder benefits upon request, including the criteria for medical necessity determinations.  In addition, states must disclose the reason for any denial of reimbursement or payment for mental health and substance use disorder services.  The rule will be published on March 30, 2016; states will have up to 18 months after publication to comply with the final rule.