In this first installment of a two-part conversation, Captivating Health Insights host Maddison Bezdicek sits down with Adam Russo, Co-Founder and CEO of The Phia Group, to unpack one of the most misunderstood—and increasingly risky—compliance issues for self-funded employers: mental health parity. Russo explains that while parity laws aim to ensure equal access to care, the reality is far more complex. He likens today’s boom in out-of-network mental health facilities to the 1990s prison expansion—driven by profit rather than patient outcomes—leaving employers exposed to excessive claims, DOL audits, and rising costs. Russo urges employers to take a proactive approach by reviewing plan documents, analyzing data, and enhancing communication, so that parity in practice aligns with parity on paper. He also calls for a shift from “innovation” to affordability, noting that “access doesn’t matter if employees can’t afford to use it.”
Chapters
(00:00:42) - Welcome & Introduction to Adam Russo(00:01:00) - How The Phia Group Began(00:03:19) - Rewriting the Rules of Cost Containment(00:06:34) - Mental Health Parity: The Title IX Analogy(00:09:07) - From Prisons to Parity: A New Industry Boom(00:13:52) - Employers in the Crosshairs(00:14:09) - Root Causes vs. Band-Aid Solutions(00:15:14) - Data Doesn’t Lie: Start With Your Claims(00:18:55) - Why Plan Language Alone Isn’t Enough(00:21:08) - The Engagement Gap(00:23:44) - Access and Affordability: Two Sides of the Same Coin(00:25:36) - Compliance Reality Check(00:29:39) - Affordability Is the New Innovation(00:32:20) - The Pandemic’s Lingering Impact(00:33:39) - A Personal Story: When Mental Health Hits Home(00:35:56) - Proactive Compliance Over Costly Audits(00:38:35) - Appeals, Lawsuits, and Doing the Right Thing(00:42:16) - Final Thoughts: Empowerment Through Education

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