| For far too long, psychological treatment has been | | | | evidence-based mental healthcare. Insurance |
| viewed as an extravagance suited only for the | | | | companies placed restrictions on coverage of |
| wealthy. In reality, mental illness afflicts anyone, | | | | psychotherapy visits, allowing only 20 to 30 visits per |
| regardless of their financial status. According to a | | | | year and requiring a co-pay of 20 percent to 50 |
| Duke University study, nearly six in ten Americans are | | | | percent. (Typically, most visits cost around $75 and |
| at risk of anxiety disorders, clinical depression, or | | | | $175 per hour) Also prescriptions from a psychiatrist |
| substance abuse. Millions more are apt to experience | | | | are covered in the same manner, involving high |
| mental ailments, expert say. Sadly, only about one fifth | | | | co-payments for anti-depressants like Wellbutrin and |
| of these people will actually seek treatment. Most of | | | | Prozac. Moreover, insurers allowed fewer reimbursed |
| those remaining will not and simply suffer in silence until | | | | days for psychological health - related hospitalization. |
| their symptoms go away. | | | | The implementation of the Mental Health Parity Act |
| In general, majority of mental illnesses are treatable | | | | begins the final chapter in an effort to ensure that |
| and manageable with appropriate care. And | | | | Americans diagnosed with debilitating and sometimes |
| fortunately, psychological treatment is becoming more | | | | life-threatening disorders will not suffer unnecessary |
| acceptable these days, partly because people are | | | | barriers put up by discriminatory health insurance |
| slowly recognizing the link between having a healthy | | | | policies. These rules expand on existing protections to |
| body and a sound mind. Though many still view mental | | | | ensure that people have equal access to health care. |
| illness as a stigma, it is less overt now than it was in | | | | The regulations will put into action the Paul Wellstone |
| previous generations. Patients are now able to get | | | | and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction |
| psychological treatment without risking their job or | | | | Equity Act of 2008. The legislation is named after the |
| credentials. | | | | late Democratic Senator Wellstone, who was a strong |
| And what's more, health insurance companies now | | | | advocate of equal treatment of benefits, and former |
| cover mental health treatment. As of January 1, 2010, | | | | Republican Senator Domenici, who first introduced |
| The Mental Health Parity Act mandates insurers to | | | | parity legislation in 1992. |
| treat mental health care on equal footing as medical | | | | In conclusion, health insurance companies now are |
| treatment. | | | | recognizing the necessity for mental health care. For |
| This means that patients in employer-sponsored group | | | | ages, people had to pay for their own psychological |
| health insurance plans (groups with 50 or less | | | | treatment, which can be extremely expensive over |
| employees are exempt) cannot be charged more out | | | | the long-term. Knowing that you can now share the |
| of pocket than they would be for medical treatment or | | | | cost with your health insurance company is a |
| have their benefits limited for mental health care. | | | | revolution of the good kind. Also, having laws that |
| These services are now clustered under a single | | | | recognize psychological disorders as legitimate illnesses |
| umbrella deductible with medical and surgical benefits. | | | | is absolutely critical for ending long-term stigma. |
| In the past, only a few had access to high quality, | | | | |