The most significant development from 1996 to the present is that mental health services are much more frequently provided by managed care entities than in the early 1990s, Dennett says. Virtually all large employer plans cover mental health services, but most have separate limits on visits, on days of hospitalization, co-payments and deductibles, according to Dennett. However, he notes it is not uncommon for large health plans to provide different limits for different benefits, such as for prescription drugs. He compared mental health illness to chronic health problems, such as diabetes and back pain. When large networks for mental health services have been proposed, we've opposed them.
Employers can put specific limits on chronic benefits.
The mental health parity requirement worked out in cooperation with OPM has achieved full parity with minimal cost increases, England says. Research has shown that providing full mental health benefits does not increase costs. 2001 National Underwriter Company. All Rights Reserved. This news story is not produced by the American Psychological Association and does not necessarily represent the opinions of the association.