After over a decade of struggling and aborted attempts, Congress passed a bill yesterday that provides for equal treatment of mental health, alcohol and substance abuse disorders, ending a decades-long practice of discrimination against these concerns by insurance companies and employers.
Although not quite done (funding still needs to be agreed-upon and it still needs the President’s signature), we’re very close to a historic change in the way employers and insurance companies view mental health problems. Forced to put these on equal footing with medical and surgical procedures (because they wouldn’t do it on their own), maybe people will finally get the message — mental disorders are just as real and debilitating as any physical injury, disease, or problem.
Over 110 million Americans will be positively affected by the new legislation, and will enjoy enhanced mental health benefits and access to mental health services.
Read the full article: Congress Passes Historic Mental Health Parity Bill
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From Psych Central's World of Psychology:
Discriminating Against People with Mental Illness - World of Psychology (9/25/2008)
The Bailout Bill and Mental Health « Cynical Synapse (10/2/2008)
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“Congress Passes Historic Mental Health Parity Bill”
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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 24 Sep 2008
