mental health parity

[booklover]

;) First of all forgive me for crossposting this but I want to make sure everyone who suffers from or loves someone that suffers from mental illness be aware of this action. As you may or may not know, many if not most medical insurance companies discriminate against people who suffer mental illness. This discrimination can take several forms, including but not limited too increased co-pay on psychiatric drugs, max. hospital days per year when there is no max on physical health days, max outpatient therapy days with no physical health equivalents. and refusal to authorize some proven, nonexperimental treatments such as ECT or VNS. Some examples of these actions I have personally suffered are 1. If my neurologist perscribes my Keppra BC/BS charges me a co-pay of $20, if the exact same dose is order by my psychiatrist the co-pay is $60. 2. I am allowed 1 month hospitalization a year, this year I ended up in a state hosp for 2 months because of this discrimination. I also have had to pay out of pocket for 6 months of therapy. With only SSDI as income this has put a tremendous strain on me and I have not been able to stay on my meds or keep therapy as often as I should.

In the mid 90's Senator Paul Wellstone submitted to congress the Senator Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act, which would "prohibit employer sponsored group health plans from imposing any treatment limitations or financial requirements on their mental health coverage unless comparable treatment limitations or financial requirements are imposed on their medical and surgical health coverage". This bill has been co-sponsored by the majority of both parties in both houses but it has yet to come to the floor.

I wrote my Senators and congressman, asking them what their stand on the issue was and what they were willing to do to push the issue. Senator Durbin replied in a letter that he introduced a Senate resolution in November, stating "Congress should act to end discrimination against citizens of the United States who live with a mental illness by making legislation relating to mental health parity a priority for the 110th congress." He is hoping for unanimous passage in both houses and feels that once this resolution is past it will force congress to pass the Wellstone act in 2007 or 2008.

It is extremely important that we keep this issue in the forefront of our represenatives minds so this discrimination will end. Please contact your Senators and congress members to demand their action. Also NIMI (the National Institute of Mental Illness) is collecting examples of discrimination to submit to congress so please visit their webpage and share your experience. Thanks for your actions and your time. Annmarie

[michael178]

On the other hand, for centuries, the responsibility for the treatment of the mentally ill was the obligation of the state, acting in their role as parent and guardian of citizens unable to take care of themselves. Historically, there was no need for coverage from private insurers and no coverage was provided. If the parity bills are passed by the states, it gives politicians an excuse to refuse to provide further assistance for the mentally ill. Several years ago, Oregon was the only state in the U.S. that dropped all coverages for the mentally ill. They eventually reinstated coverage, but it was noticeable that no hue and cry was raised against Oregon for dropping the coverage. It is my fear, that mental illnesses will eventually join all other diseases, and no state will fulfill their traditional role.

[xena]

just adding my two cents worth; It should be the responsiblity of the person to pay not the state. Treatment should be a choice by that person because a persons health is the responsiblity of that person, not the state or anyone else. we all should have the choice to choose what doctor, to disagree with or agree with any diagnosis, and help make the right choice in medication for ourselves. I don't belive you should ever give up your right to choose to anyone.

xena

[yellin]

I was wondering the same thing myself. Sorry I couldn't help you with a good answer but I can tell you to go to the Washington, DC. library link and do some research. I was told it's all right there but I didn't have the time to look it up.


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[Naominjw]

The problem runs even deeper than payment. We had the money to pay, yet because the diagnosis was considered a "mental illness," our little girl was denied the same medical care as anyone else. We didn't know we HAD to take her medical care into our own hands, pay out-of-pocket, and find appropriate care ourselves. We were so ignorant about the extent of stigma not only in insurance and society but in the medical community itself. Much of what we label "mental (http://www.itsnotmental.com)" IS MEDICAL.