« Depression affects 19 million Americans | Main | Managed care vs. Hippocratic Oath? »

April 9, 2007

What’s up with mental health “parity”?

If you are one of millions being treated for a mental illness, you may have noticed different co-pays, deductibles and treatment limitations apply when you are ready to settle the bill, as compared to out-of-pocket costs for any other medical condition. “Parity” refers to equivalent value as it pertains to insurance coverage for mental illness vs. other medical diagnoses. Physicians, other mental health professionals, some politicians and consumers alike have been hopeful legislation would end discrimination against people seeking help for mental illness. Federal mental health parity mandates would in all likelihood have other implications such as reducing the stigma of a mental illness diagnosis, which could in turn, encourage more people to ask for help when needed.

Senate Committee Approves Comprehensive Mental Health Parity Bill

Mental Health Parity: Federal and State Action and Economic Impact, courtesy of Sarah Hale, Legislative Director (U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick’s office)


Insight Psychiatry
Robin Stone, M.D.
13123 Rosedale Hill Ave.
Huntersville, NC 28078
704-948-3810

Posted by on April 9, 2007 9:51 PM | Permalink

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.lakenormanpsychiatrist.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-t.cgi/5

Post a comment

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)