Full parity: Steps toward treatment equity for mental and addictive disorders

Health Affairs

Volumn 20, Issue 4, 2001, Pages 58-67

  Hennessy, Kevin D ^a   Goldman, Howard H ^b  

^a US Department of Health Services   (United States)

^b UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ADDICTION; ARTICLE; CIVIL RIGHTS; ECONOMICS; HEALTH CARE DELIVERY; HUMAN; LEGAL ASPECT; MENTAL DISEASE; MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE; SOCIAL JUSTICE; UNITED STATES;

CIVIL RIGHTS; HEALTH SERVICES ACCESSIBILITY; HUMANS; MENTAL DISORDERS; MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES; SOCIAL JUSTICE; SUBSTANCE-RELATED DISORDERS; UNITED STATES;

EID: 0035409277     PISSN: 02782715     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.20.4.58     Document Type: Article

References (44)

1. J. Eliperin and E. Pianin, "On Capitol Hill: A Limited Agenda," Washington Post, 15 November 2000, Al; D. Brown, "Issue Guide: Trying to Cover the Bases with a Light Federal Hand," Washington Post, 26 October 2000, A25; and M. Vita and H. Dewar, "Local Issues Outweigh 'Mediocre' Congressional Session," Washington Post, 21 October 2000, A15.
2. J. Eliperin and E. Pianin, "On Capitol Hill: A Limited Agenda," Washington Post, 15 November 2000, Al; D. Brown, "Issue Guide: Trying to Cover the Bases with a Light Federal Hand," Washington Post, 26 October 2000, A25; and M. Vita and H. Dewar, "Local Issues Outweigh 'Mediocre' Congressional Session," Washington Post, 21 October 2000, A15.
3. J. Eliperin and E. Pianin, "On Capitol Hill: A Limited Agenda," Washington Post, 15 November 2000, Al; D. Brown, "Issue Guide: Trying to Cover the Bases with a Light Federal Hand," Washington Post, 26 October 2000, A25; and M. Vita and H. Dewar, "Local Issues Outweigh 'Mediocre' Congressional Session," Washington Post, 21 October 2000, A15.
4. Mental Health Parity Act of 1996, 42 U.S. Code, sec. 201.
5. R.G. Frank et al., "The Politics and Economics of Mental Health 'Parity' Laws," Health Affairs (July/Aug 1997): 108-119; M.A. Burnam and J.J. Escarce, "Equity in Managed Care for Mental Disorders," Health Affairs (Sep/Oct 1999): 22-31; and A.L. Otten, Mental Health Parity: What Can It Accomplish in a Market Dominated by Managed Care? (New York: Milbank Memorial Fund, 1998).
6. R.G. Frank et al., "The Politics and Economics of Mental Health 'Parity' Laws," Health Affairs (July/Aug 1997): 108-119; M.A. Burnam and J.J. Escarce, "Equity in Managed Care for Mental Disorders," Health Affairs (Sep/Oct 1999): 22-31; and A.L. Otten, Mental Health Parity: What Can It Accomplish in a Market Dominated by Managed Care? (New York: Milbank Memorial Fund, 1998).
7. R.G. Frank et al., "The Politics and Economics of Mental Health 'Parity' Laws," Health Affairs (July/Aug 1997): 108-119; M.A. Burnam and J.J. Escarce, "Equity in Managed Care for Mental Disorders," Health Affairs (Sep/Oct 1999): 22-31; and A.L. Otten, Mental Health Parity: What Can It Accomplish in a Market Dominated by Managed Care? (New York: Milbank Memorial Fund, 1998).
8. The term sequentialism refers to a pattern of incremental changes intended to reach a specific goal and was introduced at a conference on health care reform sponsored by the Washington Business Group on Health and the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Elkridge, Maryland, 1 May 2000. The term is cited by Paul Starr in "Health Care Reform in the New Economy," Health Affairs (Nov/Dec 2000): 23-32.
9. Frank et al., "The Politics and Economics of Mental Health 'Parity' Laws."
10. 42 U.S. Code, sec. 201.
11. E. Goode, "9 Million Gaining Upgraded Benefit for Mental Care," New York Times, 1 January 2001, Al; D. Mechanic, "Emerging Trends in Mental Health Policy and Practice," Health Affairs (Nov/Dec 1998): 82-98; and G.A. Jensen et al., "Mental Health Insurance in the 1990s: Are Employers Offering Less to More?" Health Affairs (May/June 1998): 201-208.
12. E. Goode, "9 Million Gaining Upgraded Benefit for Mental Care," New York Times, 1 January 2001, Al; D. Mechanic, "Emerging Trends in Mental Health Policy and Practice," Health Affairs (Nov/Dec 1998): 82-98; and G.A. Jensen et al., "Mental Health Insurance in the 1990s: Are Employers Offering Less to More?" Health Affairs (May/June 1998): 201-208.
13. E. Goode, "9 Million Gaining Upgraded Benefit for Mental Care," New York Times, 1 January 2001, Al; D. Mechanic, "Emerging Trends in Mental Health Policy and Practice," Health Affairs (Nov/Dec 1998): 82-98; and G.A. Jensen et al., "Mental Health Insurance in the 1990s: Are Employers Offering Less to More?" Health Affairs (May/June 1998): 201-208.
14. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Background Report: Effects of the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 (Rockville, Md.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1999).
15. U.S. General Accounting Office, Mental Health Parity Act: Despite New Federal Standards, Mental Health Benefits Remain Limited (Washington: GAO, May 2000).
16. Ibid.
17. Current information on existing state parity laws is available on the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Web site, 〈www.nami.org/campaign/statepar.htm〉 (19 March 2001).
18. R.M. Scheffler, D.P. Gitterman, and M.C. Peck, "The Political Economy of Mental Health Insurance in the United States," report prepared under NIMH Grant no. MH-18828-11. Findings are available in R.L. Kirschstein, Insurance Parity for Mental Health Cost, Access, and Quality, Final Report to Congress by the National Advisory Mental Health Council, NIH Pub. no. 00-4787 (Bethesda, Md.: National Institutes of Health, June 2000). See also W. Goldman et al., "More Evidence for the Insurability of Managed Behavioral Health Care," Health Affairs (Sep/Oct 1999): 172-181; and R. Sturm and R.L. Pacula, "State Mental Health Parity Laws: Cause or Consequence of Differences in Use?" Health Affairs (Sep/Oct 1999): 182-192.
19. R.M. Scheffler, D.P. Gitterman, and M.C. Peck, "The Political Economy of Mental Health Insurance in the United States," report prepared under NIMH Grant no. MH-18828-11. Findings are available in R.L. Kirschstein, Insurance Parity for Mental Health Cost, Access, and Quality, Final Report to Congress by the National Advisory Mental Health Council, NIH Pub. no. 00-4787 (Bethesda, Md.: National Institutes of Health, June 2000). See also W. Goldman et al., "More Evidence for the Insurability of Managed Behavioral Health Care," Health Affairs (Sep/Oct 1999): 172-181; and R. Sturm and R.L. Pacula, "State Mental Health Parity Laws: Cause or Consequence of Differences in Use?" Health Affairs (Sep/Oct 1999): 182-192.
20. R.M. Scheffler, D.P. Gitterman, and M.C. Peck, "The Political Economy of Mental Health Insurance in the United States," report prepared under NIMH Grant no. MH-18828-11. Findings are available in R.L. Kirschstein, Insurance Parity for Mental Health Cost, Access, and Quality, Final Report to Congress by the National Advisory Mental Health Council, NIH Pub. no. 00-4787 (Bethesda, Md.: National Institutes of Health, June 2000). See also W. Goldman et al., "More Evidence for the Insurability of Managed Behavioral Health Care," Health Affairs (Sep/Oct 1999): 172-181; and R. Sturm and R.L. Pacula, "State Mental Health Parity Laws: Cause or Consequence of Differences in Use?" Health Affairs (Sep/Oct 1999): 182-192.
21. R.M. Scheffler, D.P. Gitterman, and M.C. Peck, "The Political Economy of Mental Health Insurance in the United States," report prepared under NIMH Grant no. MH-18828-11. Findings are available in R.L. Kirschstein, Insurance Parity for Mental Health Cost, Access, and Quality, Final Report to Congress by the National Advisory Mental Health Council, NIH Pub. no. 00-4787 (Bethesda, Md.: National Institutes of Health, June 2000). See also W. Goldman et al., "More Evidence for the Insurability of Managed Behavioral Health Care," Health Affairs (Sep/Oct 1999): 172-181; and R. Sturm and R.L. Pacula, "State Mental Health Parity Laws: Cause or Consequence of Differences in Use?" Health Affairs (Sep/Oct 1999): 182-192.
22. Kirschstein, Insurance Parity for Mental Health
23. Ibid.
24. Ibid.
25. K.D. Hennessy and S. Stephens, "Mental Health Parity: Clarifying Our Objectives," Psychiatric Services 48, no. 2 (1997): 161-164.
26. A.I. Leshner, "Addiction Is a Brain Disease, and It Matters," Science 278, no. 5335 (1997): 45-47; A.I. Leshner, "Science-Based Views of Drug Addiction and Its Treatment," Journal of the American Medical Association 282, no. 14 (1999): 1314-1316; C.P. O'Brien, "A Range of Research-Based Pharmacotherapies for Addiction," Science 278, no. 5335 (1997): 66-70; C.P. O'Brien, "Myths about the Treatment of Addiction," Lancet 347, no. 8996 (1996): 237-240; and A.T. McLellan et al., "Evaluating the Effectiveness of Addiction Treatments: Reasonable Expectations, Appropriate Comparisons," Milbank Quarterly 74, no. 1 (1996): 51-85.
27. A.I. Leshner, "Addiction Is a Brain Disease, and It Matters," Science 278, no. 5335 (1997): 45-47; A.I. Leshner, "Science-Based Views of Drug Addiction and Its Treatment," Journal of the American Medical Association 282, no. 14 (1999): 1314-1316; C.P. O'Brien, "A Range of Research-Based Pharmacotherapies for Addiction," Science 278, no. 5335 (1997): 66-70; C.P. O'Brien, "Myths about the Treatment of Addiction," Lancet 347, no. 8996 (1996): 237-240; and A.T. McLellan et al., "Evaluating the Effectiveness of Addiction Treatments: Reasonable Expectations, Appropriate Comparisons," Milbank Quarterly 74, no. 1 (1996): 51-85.
28. A.I. Leshner, "Addiction Is a Brain Disease, and It Matters," Science 278, no. 5335 (1997): 45-47; A.I. Leshner, "Science-Based Views of Drug Addiction and Its Treatment," Journal of the American Medical Association 282, no. 14 (1999): 1314-1316; C.P. O'Brien, "A Range of Research-Based Pharmacotherapies for Addiction," Science 278, no. 5335 (1997): 66-70; C.P. O'Brien, "Myths about the Treatment of Addiction," Lancet 347, no. 8996 (1996): 237-240; and A.T. McLellan et al., "Evaluating the Effectiveness of Addiction Treatments: Reasonable Expectations, Appropriate Comparisons," Milbank Quarterly 74, no. 1 (1996): 51-85.
29. A.I. Leshner, "Addiction Is a Brain Disease, and It Matters," Science 278, no. 5335 (1997): 45-47; A.I. Leshner, "Science-Based Views of Drug Addiction and Its Treatment," Journal of the American Medical Association 282, no. 14 (1999): 1314-1316; C.P. O'Brien, "A Range of Research-Based Pharmacotherapies for Addiction," Science 278, no. 5335 (1997): 66-70; C.P. O'Brien, "Myths about the Treatment of Addiction," Lancet 347, no. 8996 (1996): 237-240; and A.T. McLellan et al., "Evaluating the Effectiveness of Addiction Treatments: Reasonable Expectations, Appropriate Comparisons," Milbank Quarterly 74, no. 1 (1996): 51-85.
30. A.I. Leshner, "Addiction Is a Brain Disease, and It Matters," Science 278, no. 5335 (1997): 45-47; A.I. Leshner, "Science-Based Views of Drug Addiction and Its Treatment," Journal of the American Medical Association 282, no. 14 (1999): 1314-1316; C.P. O'Brien, "A Range of Research-Based Pharmacotherapies for Addiction," Science 278, no. 5335 (1997): 66-70; C.P. O'Brien, "Myths about the Treatment of Addiction," Lancet 347, no. 8996 (1996): 237-240; and A.T. McLellan et al., "Evaluating the Effectiveness of Addiction Treatments: Reasonable Expectations, Appropriate Comparisons," Milbank Quarterly 74, no. 1 (1996): 51-85.
31. Estimates generated from the U.S. Department of Labor's analysis of the insurance-related questions from the March 1998 Current Population Survey; see also J.A. Buck et al., "Behavioral Health Benefits in Employer-Sponsored Health Plans, 1997," Health Affairs (Mar/Apr 1999): 67-78.
32. Frank et al., "The Politics and Economics of Mental Health 'Parity' Laws"; and Otten, Mental Health Parity.
33. Frank et al., "The Politics and Economics of Mental Health 'Parity' Laws"; and Otten, Mental Health Parity.
34. Kirschstein, Insurance Parity for Mental Health
35. Ibid., 12.
36. National Institutes of Health, Parity in Financing Mental Health Services: Managed Care Effects on Cost, Access, and Quality (Rockville, Md.: DHHS, April 1998).
37. R. Sturm, "How Expensive Is Unlimited Mental Health Care Coverage under Managed Care?" Journal of the American Medical Association 278, no. 18 (1997): 1533-1537; and R. Sturm et al., "How Expensive Are Unlimited Substance Abuse Benefits under Managed Care?" Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research 26, no. 2 (1999): 203-210.
38. R. Sturm, "How Expensive Is Unlimited Mental Health Care Coverage under Managed Care?" Journal of the American Medical Association 278, no. 18 (1997): 1533-1537; and R. Sturm et al., "How Expensive Are Unlimited Substance Abuse Benefits under Managed Care?" Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research 26, no. 2 (1999): 203-210.
39. P.B. Peele, "Benefit Limits in Managed Behavioral Health Care: Do They Matter?" Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research 26, no. 4 (1999): 438.
40. FEHB Carrier Letter no. 1999-027, 7 June 1999; and Goode, "9 Million Gaining Upgraded Benefit for Mental Care."
41. Burnam and Escarce, "Equity in Managed Care for Mental Disorders."
42. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and National Institutes of Health, Mental Health; A Report of the Surgeon General (Rockville, Md.: DHHS, 1999).
43. C. Hoffman and M. Pohl, Health Insurance Coverage in America: 1999 Data Update (Washington: Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, 2000).
44. SAMHSA and NIH, Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General.