January is Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Month, highlighting the importance of timely access to evidence-based treatment and recovery supports for people who are living with substance use disorders. SUD affects millions of people across the United States, and access to a full range of treatment options, including prevention, inpatient and outpatient services, medication-assisted treatment and recovery support, is critical to improving outcomes.
Availability alone is not enough. People seeking care often face barriers such as coverage limitations, inconsistent benefit design and administrative requirements that delay or restrict access to appropriate treatment. Addressing these challenges requires systems that support parity, transparency and accountability across mental health and substance use disorder benefits.
URAC continues to advance quality and accountability in behavioral health through its Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Accreditation and ParityManager™ compliance software. The program helps organizations assess and strengthen how benefits are designed and administered, supporting equitable access to SUD treatment and reinforcing parity as a vital priority.
