Legislation passed Tuesday by the House and Senate will guarantee parity "for hospital stays and doctor visits, as well as co-payments and deductibles. Plans that offer out-of-network coverage for physical problems will have to add equivalent mental coverage." Still, "the legislation doesn't specify what disorders must be covered."

One behavioral health consultant "said there is consensus that major problems such as serious depression, schizophrenia, and substance abuse should be covered, but" she noted that "employers differ whether to cover autism, attention-deficit disorder, and some others." The legislation also "doesn't require insurance plans sold to individuals, employers with fewer than 50 workers, or those that don't provide any health coverage, to offer mental health coverage."

Along with the bill's shortcomings, the AP (9/25, Reking) notes that it "still faces some hurdles before getting to President Bush for his signature." The House and the Senate's bills differed in that "the House bill focused strictly on mental health parity, [but] the Senate bill also covered the renewal of dozens of popular tax breaks for businesses and individuals. The two chambers will have to pass an exact, final version before it can become law, but time is quickly passing for this Congress."

Modern Healthcare (9/24, Zigmond) also covered the story.

Related Links:

- "Mental-Health Bill on Tap," Jane Zhang, Wall Street Journal, September 25, 2008.
- "Mental-health parity bills OK'd; next step unclear," Jessica Zigmund, Modern Healthcare, September 24, 2008.