Kennedy’s Win In Mental Health Parity Law
A part of the Wall Street bailout bill is a great relief for the 113 mn Americans who are affected with mental illness. There is a provision here which makes it mandatory for health insurance companies not to discriminate against patients who suffer from psychological and behavioural disorders.
This has been hailed as a great victory for civil rights by a leading mental health advocacy group. Senator Edward M Kennedy (Massachusetts) and Patrick Kennedy (Rhode Island) have struggled for 10 years to pass this bill and ensure equal treatment for mental illness in the weighing scale of the American health care system.
Mental illness is treatable just like physical illness due to the innovations in medicine today says Kennedy. Kennedy is under treatment for brain cancer. He said that following a debate that lasted 10 years now people with mental illness can finally enjoy health insurance coverage without discrimination.
The law now says that people with these illnesses will have access to affordable coverage just like those with physical illnesses. Every two years the department of Labor will report to Congress how group health plans are complying with the law.
