Here is the news that many people are waiting for............Coverage for Mental Health

House Bill Ups Mental Health Coverage

Proposal Requires Insurance Companies to Offer Similar Coverage for Mental and Physical Health

By Todd Zwillich
WebMD Medical News

Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD

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March 5, 2008—The House passed a broad bill guaranteeing better mental health coverage for people with private insurance Wednesday, handing a victory to patient and medical groups that championed the bill.

The bill enforces mental health "parity." It forces insurance companies covering mental health treatment to offer the same level of coverage for it as they do for physical illnesses.

Current federal law requires insurers to cover the same amount of total lifetime spending for mental and physical diseases. But it leaves insurers free to charge higher co-pays and deductibles for mental illness treatment. It also lets them restrict the number of covered visits to a doctor or other mental health professional. Most insurance companies make use of such restrictions.

"Mental illness deserves treatment, and people who suffer from mental illness deserve to have their diseases covered by their health plans," says Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., who is a clinical psychologist.

"I urge my colleagues to vote against discrimination," says Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the House Democratic Leader.

Many mental health patient groups and medical societies have long fought for the bill. Congress has tried and failed to pass similar legislation for more than a decade. Some groups, including the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, backed the Senate version, saying it was more likely to be signed into law.

( Courtesy: MedicineNet.com Daily News & illumio network)