The Washington Post /Kaiser Health News (3/2, Boodman) reports that “an estimated 140 million Americans…are the beneficiaries of a sweeping new federal law designed to guarantee parity in insurance coverage.”
The new “law, which took effect for most plans Jan. 1, applies to groups of more than 50 employees,” ensures that “higher deductibles, steeper co-pays, and other restrictions are no longer allowed for mental health and substance abuse treatment.” While some businesses say that “prohibiting separate deductibles may have unintended consequences,” Irvin Muszynski, an attorney at the American Psychiatric Association, after explaining that “mental health and substance abuse expenditures…account for a fraction of total healthcare expenditures,” asked, “So, what is everyone freaking out about?”
Related Links:
- Parity law requires mental health benefits comparable to physical care benefits,” Sandra G. Boodman, The Washington Post, Marsh 2, 2010.