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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jay on November 30, 2004, at 20:31:42
You certainly don't have to be a graduate student to get into this topic. Anyone affected, which really means all of us, has a right to their views. So, how is Bush and the Parity issue coming along? Has Bush hindered or helped the millions of lower and middle class who don't have insurance for their mental health? How about in England under Blair and in Canada under Martin? The point being, *we* as a collective of mental health consumers deserve the best of care. Many, many are very dissatisfied with the current state of affairs. How can the system(s) be made better? I will let someone else continue on this topic...
Jay
Posted by gardenergirl on November 30, 2004, at 22:48:11
In reply to Mixing Politics and Mental Health..., posted by jay on November 30, 2004, at 20:31:42
The last action on Mental Health Parity was that Speaker Hastert would not bring the "Senator Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act" to the floor for a vote. Apparently, the insurance lobbyists speak louder than grassroots advocacy, NAMI, APA and other supportive organizations.
You can make your voice heard on mental health parity by going to www.apapractice.org and signing in with your zip code to the legislative action center on the right hand side of the page. You do not need to be a member of APA to use this feature. There you can send a letter to your elected officials urging support for the Paul Wellstone Memorial Act which would bring mental health parity to our insurance laws.
To put it simply, parity means that insurance companies who offer coverage for mental illness would have to do so at the same level as they do for physical illness. That would be a huge improvement to the system.
Bush made a speech in April of 2002 urging Congress to support the Wellstone Act, but to the best of my knowledge has not spoken of it in any real way since.
Please take a minute to make your voice heard!
gg
Posted by AuntieMel on December 2, 2004, at 13:00:39
In reply to Mental Health Parity, posted by gardenergirl on November 30, 2004, at 22:48:11
A large part of the problem is the ERISA act (was it an act?). ERISA tells companies large enough to self-insure that they don't have to follow state insurance rules. The rules for ERISA have a much lower level of requirements.
The idea was so companies wouldn't have to have different policies for all the states they employ people in. Which makes sense - except that the requirements never get updated.
I live in a state that has laws on parity, but my employer is a large company. They self-insure and hire an insurance company (Cigna, in my case) to administer the claims.
I'll have to check out the Wellstone act to see if it applies to ERISA.
Argh!
Posted by gardenergirl on December 2, 2004, at 16:15:56
In reply to Re: Mental Health Parity » gardenergirl, posted by AuntieMel on December 2, 2004, at 13:00:39
Auntie Mel,
I believe (I could be wrong, of course) that the Wellstone Act closes the loopholes from ERISA. And I believe it would supercede state law unless state law provides for MORE benefits to the insured.gg
Posted by GeishaGirl on December 3, 2004, at 12:40:47
In reply to Re: Mental Health Parity » AuntieMel, posted by gardenergirl on December 2, 2004, at 16:15:56
I find all of this interesting. My problem is the idea of what is covered, especially with government insurance. Access is provided (although in a limited way, unfortunately) to what are considered mainstream treatments. Even when I used mainsteam treatments, when I developed tardive dyskinesia from the meds, I was denied coverage for a presription for vitamin E written by my then psychiatrist. So, my TD went untreated.
I have Medicare and Medicaid. What I need is coverage for homeopathy and herbs. Also things like coverage to attend things like yoga classes, qi gung classes, spritual counseling, massage, wellness seminars, gym memberships, etc. I can't afford to do almost everything on this list - some of it I do with the guidance of written material, when having someone there to guide me would help even more.. Covering everything that someone needs to get well and stay well is of great importance to me, whatever that may be for an individual. Physical and mental/ emotional stuff, to me, are so connected the two can't be separated.
Geisha Girl
Posted by AuntieMel on December 3, 2004, at 17:01:37
In reply to Re: Mental Health Parity » AuntieMel, posted by gardenergirl on December 2, 2004, at 16:15:56
Right. I looked it up and it does apply to ERISA.
But the whole point if ERISA is to NOT have to conform to state rules. Right now if the state law requires more benefits, ERISA is what gets the large companies off the hook for it.
This is the end of the thread.
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