Government

Doctors call for mental health parity

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 23, 2004

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A group of more than 100 specialty and state medical societies has called on Congress to pass the Senator Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act. The legislation would require group health plans that offer mental health benefits to do so without limits that differ from those on medical-surgical benefits. Under the bill, health plans could not impose arbitrary caps on the duration of treatment or require patients to pay more out of pocket for mental health benefits. The Congressional Budget Office has projected that the bill would increase group health plan rates by 0.9%.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/02/23/gvbf0223.htm.

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