Trump Rollbacks Put Mental Health Coverage at Risk Nationwide

August 22, 2025

The Trump administration has suspended Biden-era regulations requiring insurers to disclose restrictions on mental health claims and has cut funding to the agency enforcing mental health parity laws. These actions coincide with alarming health trends, including a surge in drug deaths among seniors and significant racial disparities in premature deaths. The Employee Benefits Security Administration is experiencing substantial workforce reductions, with investigative staff already cut by nearly 40% in some regions, leaving families struggling to receive coverage for mental health treatment.

Who is affected

Millions of Americans seeking mental health care
U.S. adults 65 and older, particularly in the District of Columbia where drug deaths increased 120%
Black seniors who are four times more likely to die prematurely than white peers
Families seeking mental health treatment coverage (like the Massachusetts family mentioned)
Youth with unmet behavioral health needs
Communities experiencing racial and economic disparities in mortality, drug deaths, and housing insecurity

What action is being taken

The Trump administration is pausing Biden-era rules requiring insurers to disclose mental health claim restrictions
The federal government is cutting funding to the agency enforcing mental health parity
The Employee Benefits Security Administration's workforce is being reduced, with investigative staff already cut by almost 40% in some regions
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is investing in behavioral health grants across Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia
Local screening programs are identifying youth with unmet behavioral health needs

Why it matters

The rollbacks leave patients vulnerable to insurance denials, delays, and rising medical bills
Drug deaths among seniors are surging at a time when oversight is being reduced
Significant racial disparities in health outcomes point to an urgent need for accountability in coverage
Fewer investigators mean families may wait longer for relief or never receive help with insurance denials
Without federal enforcement, existing racial and economic inequities in healthcare are likely to deepen
The administration's actions have effectively undermined the 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint