Mental Health Parity Soon to Be Law

The New York Times says that bills have been passed by the House of Representatives and US Senate that will require insurance providers to give equal coverage for mental and physical claims. Apparently, the law will be coming soon in the U.S.

In the Senate, mental health parity is part of an alternative fuels, energy conservation, and renewable energy bill. In the mental health provision, group health insurance plans will be required to cover treatment for mental conditions equally to physical ailments.

The energy bill, which includes the mental health parity provision, was approved in the Senate 93 to 2.A stand alone mental health bill, which applies to all health insurance plans, has been approved in the House 376 to 47.

One single mental health bill is expected to be sent to the president's desk, by the Senate and the House, says the Times article. The White House, mental health advocates, health insurance companies and both Chambers of Congress all support these mental health bills in unison.

U.S. Senator Pete Domenici from New Mexico says, "No longer will people with mental illness have their mental health coverage treated differently than their coverage for other illnesses like cancer, heart disease and diabetes.