Twenty-two health insurance companies in Georgia have violated state law and will pay a total of $20 million for not covering mental health equally to physical health, Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King announced Friday.

His office found more than 6,000 violations among the insurers in the market, including some that inconsistently applied benefits and required approval from the insurer prior to care even when that approval was not necessary.

King’s office did not immediately provide the name off the 22 companies.

The state said the insurers broke a 2022 law enacted in response to pleas from mental health and addiction recovery advocates in the wake of the opioid crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. King’s office is in charge of regulating who gets to offer insurance in Georgia.

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