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October 06, 2010
Laws Improving Health-Insurance Coverage For Mental Illnesses, Substance Abuse
The Washington Post /Kaiser Health News (10/5) reports, "Two federal laws that provide better insurance coverage for more people with mental health and substance abuse conditions are just beginning to take effect, and advocates describe the changes as a huge win for consumers that will greatly improve treatment."
First, "under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which took effect this year, the mental health and substance abuse benefits that a health plan provides have to be just as generous as its coverage for medical and surgical treatments."
Second, under the newly passed health reform law, "plans sold through the state-based insurance exchanges that will begin offering coverage in 2014 must include mental health and addiction benefits, and the benefits must be on a par with a plan's medical benefits."
Related Links:
- "New health-care law improves coverage for mental illnesses," Michelle Andrews, Washington Post, October 4, 2010.
Posted by admin at October 6, 2010 03:54 PM