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October 10, 2008
Mental Health Parity Update
Compromise mental health parity bill passes after excluding provisions for coverage of all DSM diagnoses and exempting employers who have less than 50 employees, or who do not currently offer mental health benefits. The law does prohibit limits on number of outpatient treatment sessions per year, equalizes co-pays for mental illness and non-psychiatric specialist co-pays, AND provides for parity within out-of-network benefit coverage. The effective date has been reported as Jan 1st, 2010, (ironically the estimated date for revealing the reworked diagnostic manual for psychiatric providers).
U.S. Chamber of Commerce and AIP (America’s Health Insurance Plans) strong proponents of the senate version of the parity act, conceded with CEO of AIP, Karen Ignagni on the helm touting again the benefits of utilization review…errr I mean “innovative health strategies to improve health care.”
Does utilization review result in better treatment outcomes? I think the jury is still out on that one.
Source: Washington Post 10/10/08 article (Metro section) “Law Equalizes Coverage for Mental, Medical Illness: ‘Milestone’ measure could expand treatment services”
A summary of the Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act can be found here. The Mental Health Parity Law is explained on this wiki.
Robin Stone, M.D.
www.insight-psychiatry.com
13123 Rosedale Hill Ave.
Huntersville, NC 28078
704-948-3810
