Main Category: Mental Health News
Article Date: 11 Sep 2006 - 5:00am (PDT)
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The New York state Senate this month is expected to approve legislation that would require insurance companies to provide mental health coverage at the same level and out-of-pocket cost as other coverage, the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin reports. The Senate and Assembly two months ago reached an agreement on the measure, "but there was not enough time to vote on it," the Press & Sun-Bulletin reports. The proposal features the following provisions:
 

• Every insured person would receive coverage for a minimum of 20 outpatient visits for mental health care and 30 inpatient days per year;
  
   
• The state would pay the additional mental health care costs for businesses with 50 or fewer employees -- estimated up to $60 million;
  
   
• Larger employers would be required to provide unlimited treatment for adults with schizophrenia, psychotic disorders, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, delusional disorders, panic disorder, bulimia and anorexia;
  
   
• Larger employers would have to provide coverage for the above conditions for people younger than age 18, in addition to coverage for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, disruptive behavior disorders and pervasive developmental disorders; and
  
   
• Smaller employers would be allowed to opt into the extended coverage required for large employers.
   

Sisa Moyo, a spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D), said the Assembly has not set a date to act on the bill, adding that the Assembly hopes to reconvene before the end of the year. Otherwise, the Assembly would vote on the measure in January 2007 with an immediate effective date, Silver said. Sen. Thomas Libous (R), the bill's main sponsor, said, "I would like very much to pass [the bill] and get it moving. I've been working on it for five to six years now. It would be my preference to get it passed on the 15th" (Matthews, Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin, 9/5).

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