Mental Health Parity And Addiction Equity Act Of 2008

Reform: Parity’s Friend or Foe?

There are two astronomical events happening at the same time: Parity regulations are being crafted to impact more than 100 million Americans while health and insurance Reform packages are being considered -the impact of which will be felt by all of us. Oddly, both are still vague and we lack the foresight to prepare [...]

Parity & Reform Must Address Rural Behavioral Health Care and Coverage

So much of what we’re hearing, reading and considering when it comes to behavioral health parity and health insurance reform is a function of our urban and suburban perceptions of health care. I lived and worked in a rural/frontier state for some time and can recall the difficulties and challenges we faced there and [...]

The Bigger Picture: Making Sense of Behavioral Health Beyond Reform and Post-Parity

The reform debate rages on (and on). Meanwhile, some very important questions remain unanswered and buried under the weight of “inflammation” rather than meaningful healthcare information. To say that this process has become inflamed and devisive – hijacked by pundits and strategists from both sides of the aisle – is a great understatement at [...]

“Addiction Equity” – Addressing Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Coverage with the help of ASAM

We recently presented to the State Associations of Addictions Services (SAAS) at their annual summit in Tucson where they had joined forces with NIATx (and by extension SAMHSA and NIDA) in the interest of exploring patient engagement strategies, the exchange of process improvement ideas, and understanding how healthcare reform and the Mental Health Parity [...]

Reform, Rationing & Rationality: How The Healthcare Debate Unfolds In Behavioral Health

Watching the House and Senate debate and planning process and witnessing the media and pundit reaction on television and in the blog-o-sphere everyday, I find it no wonder the average voter is losing confidence. The healthcare debate in this country revolves around some of the most complex economic, scientific, legal and ethical challenges in [...]

Expanding Access to Behavioral Health Services Akin to Removing Barriers

As we approach the launch of Parity this Fall and Winter and slog through the trials and tribulations of the Healthcare Reform “process” in Washington DC, we are reminded that one of the overarching goals for both Parity and Reform is enhanced access to high-quality care. I don’t know about you but that particular [...]

Is Mental Health Parity a Civil Rights Issue?

While in DC last week, I heard someone quip: “Mental health parity was and continues to be a civil rights concern.” Frankly, while I had always thought of it in terms of equity and fairness as well as a resolution of stigma and discrimination issues, I had not thought often of Parity in terms [...]

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