On Friday, October 3, 2008, President Bush signed an important and long-debated mental health parity bill, mandating that health plans and employers offer the same level of coverage for mental health as they provide for physical health. This will result in a huge financial burden for many organizations that must now pay for and deliver additional mental health services to their populations.
“The implications and ramifications of this bill will increase pressure on health plans and employers who don’t take action to address mental health issues within their populations—with a focus on prevention, early intervention, and treatment,” advises Dr. Richard Bedrosian, Ph.D., Director of Behavioral Health at HealthMedia. “There is already a critical shortage of clinicians to serve these populations, and although the new bill will undoubtedly increase coverage, it will not increase the number of accessible, qualified clinicians to meet the growing demand for treatment.” According to statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health, more than one in four adults suffers from some mental disorder each year.
“This is good news for patients across the country, as it elevates the importance of emotional health on par with that of physical health,” said Andrew Bertagnolli, Ph.D., Senior Consultant—Behavioral Health & Pain Management, Care Management Institute, Kaiser Permanente. “Studies consistently show that a patient’s psychological and emotional well-being is an important factor in many physical health conditions, from recovery from surgery, adherence to treatment and managing chronic conditions. For too long the health care system has supported a 'split' between the mind and the body; this legislation begins to bridge this split, insuring that patients receive equal coverage for both medical and psychological issues.”
According to Frank B. McArdle, a health policy expert at Hewitt Associates, a benefits consulting firm, the law would force sweeping changes in the workplace. “A large majority of health plans currently have limits on hospital inpatient days and outpatient visits for mental health treatments, but not for other treatments. They will have to change their plan design,” McArdle said.
Dr. Bedrosian stated that poor mental health significantly affects productivity, increases health care costs, and is co-morbid with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. “And with the stigma associated with mental health, it is vital for organizations to deploy solutions that are confidential and easily accessible at any time,” he said. “By combining our tailored interventions with intelligent recruitment strategies, we can work with organizations to ensure the highest level of participation within any population.”
Currently, HealthMedia’s behavioral health solutions in the areas of depression, insomnia, eating disorders and stress have more than 17 million covered lives through organizations including Aetna, Highmark Inc., Kaiser Permanente, and McKesson. Next month, HealthMedia® will host a webinar on this very important topic.
Date: 11/06/2008
Time: 2:00 PM EST
Register at https://www.SignUp4.net/Public/ap.aspx?EID=WEBI76E