Today, the Partnership for Employer-Sponsored Coverage sent a letter to the co-chairs of the newly formed Coronavirus Mental Health Working Group tasked with assessing the mental- and behavioral health needs of Americans during the pandemic. Employers play a critical role in the continuum of care for millions of working Americans and their families enrolled in employment-based coverage plans, and welcomes the opportunity to provide input on ways to strengthen and expand access to mental and behavioral health services especially during the pandemic.

The Working Group was created through Executive Order (E.O.) 13954, Saving Lives Through Increased Support for Mental- and Behavioral-Health Needs, signed by the President on October 3. The E.O. directs the Working Group, which is co-chaired by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Brooke Rollins, Acting Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, to "develop and submit to the President a report that outlines a plan for improved service coordination between all relevant public and private stakeholders and executive departments and agencies (agencies) to assist individuals in crisis so that they receive effective treatment and recovery services.”

The P4ESC letter highlights the important opportunity that social distancing and working from home brings - expansion of telehealth services in the employer health system. The letter specifically expresses the Coalition’s support for expanding access to telehealth excepted benefit plans to all employees, including part-time and variable workforces. The full letter is available HERE.