Mental health parity should be approved
Friday, June 29th, 2007
By Chris Fitzsimon
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// < ![CDATA[ OAS_AD('Middle'); // ]]> The stigma of mental illness can prevent people who need psychiatric help from getting it. They’re even less likely to seek treatment if their insurance doesn’t pay for care or leaves them in a financial bind.
Legislation requiring equal treatment from insurance companies for mental and physical illness appears headed for approval in the General Assembly. This week, a committee passed on to the full Senate a parity bill. In May, the House, with only one dissenting vote, approved a somewhat different version.
Parity in coverage should encourage more North Carolinians to seek treatment for mental disorders. By getting the help they need, there’s a better chance they can return to productive lives. And timely access to private care at home eases the costly drain on a faltering state mental health system.
It comes down to a matter of fairness. Mental health advocates argue convincingly that insurance providers should cover patients with major depression, for example, just as they do someone with heart disease.
The push to erase such inequities is gathering momentum. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 34 states already have passed such legislation. A similar bill awaits congressional debate. Not to be overlooked, N.C. state employee health plans already require equal coverage for mental and physical illness. (more…)
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