Legal Action Center / Opioid Response Network On-Line Training - Federal Medicaid Policy Changes: Privacy and Parity Act Considerations

Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM
Place: Online

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As states implement new Medicaid policies, including the new work reporting requirement, there are other federal laws that come into play, specifically federal privacy protections and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (Parity Act). Join the Legal Action Center for this webinar highlighting two new resources discussing how these existing laws interface with new Medicaid policies as states implement the work reporting requirement and other policy changes:

Implications of 42 CFR Part 2 on the SUD exemptions: This guide discusses the implications of federal health privacy protections on the Medicaid work reporting requirement and specifically, how 42 CFR Part 2 applies (or doesn't) to SUD related Medicaid claims data for purposes of determining eligibility for the SUD-related exemptions.

Parity Act and New Federal Medicaid Policies: As states look to reduce Medicaid expenditures and otherwise implement new federal Medicaid laws, some are considering or adopting changes that would disproportionately limit coverage of mental health and substance use disorder services, likely in violation of federal parity rules. For example, Kentucky added prior authorization requirements to all behavioral health services last year, and Virginia is currently considering a 20-hour per week cap on ABA therapy for autism. This issue brief clarifies Parity Act requirements in Medicaid as states continue implementing new federal Medicaid laws.

Meet Your Presenters

Jacqueline Seitz and Deborah Steinberg