House Approves Bill on Mental Health Parity
In the New York Times, March 6, 2008, journalist Robert Pear wrote:
After more than a decade of struggle, the House on Wednesday passed a bill requiring most group health plans to provide more generous coverage for treatment of mental illnesses, comparable to what they provide for physical illnesses.
“Illness of the brain must be treated just like illness anywhere else in the body,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California. Supporters of the House bill, including consumer groups and the American Psychiatric Association, said it would be a boon to many of the 35 million Americans who experience disabling symptoms of mental disorders each year.
Commentary from Mary:
If you have a family member with a mental health disorder and are fortunate enough to have insurance, you may see a change in your benefits in the future. On March 5th, the House signed a bill outlawing health insurers to set lower limits or higher co-pays on mental health coverage compared to other medical conditions establishing mental health parity. The Senate has passed a similar bill.
Hopefully this passage will bring more attention to helping the 35 million families that grapple with these issues. There is still much work to be done toward decreasing the stigma, rethinking our attitudes, and continuing to create laws and public policy that will address treating mental illness in the same way we treat physical illness. Educating others in your own communities is a great way to start.
To read the complete New York Times article, visit House Approves Bill on Mental Health Parity.
