How would you feel if your insurance provider told you that the doctors’ visits and treatment costs for your illness were not going to be covered, or that you would have to pay a high deductible? Many people in our country are being told just that, and the reason is that the illness they have is substance abuse. There has long been a view in the world that substance abuse is a choice, or a character flaw, not a mental illness. Things are changing, however, and more and more research is being done on the complexities of the brain and its reaction to substance abuse. People today are beginning to see that while substance use might start as a decision to try something new, it quickly becomes an addiction that can’t be controlled.
Congress approves Mental Health Parity Act
Congress approved legislation last week that would change the way insurance providers handle claims for mental illness and substance abuse. The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 provides “equity in the coverage of mental health and substance use disorders by ensuring that group health care plans do not charge higher co-payments, coinsurance, deductibles, and impose maximum out-of-pocket limits and lower day and visit limits.” Supporters of this measure include many in the House and Senate, businesses, insurance companies, and physicians. However, a few questions remained and until last week, it was uncertain whether or not the bill would pass before Congress went into recess this year. By attaching it to the Wall Street bailout bill, however, Congress was able to pass it quickly.
Help is needed
Help can’t come soon enough for many Americans struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, mental illness is the leading cause, and substance use is the second leading cause, of disability among adults. Many of these adults are not getting the help they need to recover from their mental illness, and often it is because of the high cost of treatment. Another reason is fear of discrimination from their employer if they do seek treatment.
Equal Coverage for an epidemic
With legislation such as the Mental Health Parity Act, those with a substance abuse disorder can be reassured that their insurers will not be able to set a cap on healthcare coverage for mental illness or substance abuse that isn’t set for other illnesses.
In order to deal with the epidemic of substance abuse, we need more good addiction treatment facilities, more affordable health care to addicts, and more support behind families dealing with substance abuse. Through the passage of this bill, those with addiction should be encouraged to move forward and seek treatment, so that we can work toward decreasing the incidence of drug and alcohol abuse.
Sources
Congresswoman Shea-Porter Hails Passage of Mental Health Parity Act September 24, 2008
Many State Reform Initiatives Are Neglecting Mental Illness, Says Study July 08, 2008
Curley, Bob Congress, Bush Approve Addiction and Mental Health Parity Legislation October 3, 2008
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