Rep. Mark Desaulnier Questions Sec. Lori Chavez-DeRemer on Behavioral Health Benefits Rollback

Concerns Over Behavioral Health Benefits

• 💡 Mark Desaulnier, ranking member of the Health, Employment, Labor, and Pension subcommittee, expressed concern over proposed cuts to the Department of Labor's budget.
• ⚠️ The administration's decision to no longer enforce the 2024 mental health parity final rule, which ensures equal treatment for mental health and substance abuse benefits compared to medical benefits, is a key point of contention.
• 📉 Desaulnier highlighted that the President's 2026 budget proposal cuts funding for the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and allows the No Surprises Act funding to expire.
• 📊 The EBSA would be left with only 640 employees to oversee 14 trillion dollars in plan assets for over 150 million Americans, a significant reduction from 2012.

Department of Labor's Stance and Future Collaboration

• 🤝 Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer acknowledged the preliminary nature of the budget and emphasized her willingness to work with Congress on appropriations.
• ⚖️ She stated that the administration aims to roll back rules imposing undue burdens without clear statutory backing, referencing Executive Order 14219.
• 🛠️ Chavez-DeRemer committed to working with Desaulnier and other members of Congress on technical assistance if they wish to pursue statutory changes.
• 📈 The Secretary noted the department's goal to increase labor participation by helping individuals return to the workforce, emphasizing that benefits for medical and behavioral health situations support both employees and the economy.

Expanding Parity to Disability Insurance

• 📌 Desaulnier announced his intention to introduce a bill extending behavioral health parity principles to disability insurance, a recommendation from the ORISA Advisory Council.
• ✅ He secured a commitment from Secretary Chavez-DeRemer to work with him and colleagues to implement this recommendation.
• 💬 The brief exchange concluded with Desaulnier thanking the Secretary for her succinct answer.