Mental Health Gets Equal Insurance Coverage

by Josie Raymond · 2010-01-29 15:38:00 UTC
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The Obama administration issued rules today that require parity in the treatment of mental health and substance abuse disorders. The regulations, officially called the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, could affect the 150 million Americans in group health insurance plans generally provided through an employer. (Employers with fewer than 50 employees are exempt.) The rules take effect on July 1 of this year.

This means that patients who are covered cannot be charged more out of pocket than they would be for general medical care or see their benefits limited for mental health and substance abuse services. These services will now be grouped under one umbrella deductible with medical and surgical benefits.

The quest for parity has been winding its way through Congress since the early 1990s and through the minds and consciences of lawmakers since the '60s. These rules expand on a 1996 parity act that did not include substance abuse treatment.

The American Psychological Association calls it "a big win for anyone seeking mental health treatment," and adds, "under these regulations consumers are protected from insurance discrimination to the greatest extent possible." Megan McArdle at The Atlantic, however, is not feeling it. "We could have achieved the laudable goal of ensuring that serious mental illnesses are not left untreated ... without guaranteeing cheaper psychotherapy for America's ennui-laden affluent classes."

Photo credit: Jessia Hime

Josie Raymond is a Change.org editor who has reported from the streets of the South Bronx, written for several magazines that folded (not her fault) and fixed thousands of typos.
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