The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 will not require health plan providers to give mental health coverage to insured individuals but if they do so, they'll have to shoulder the treatment of psychological and addictive disorders like any other diseases.
The law will put an end to limits on hospital visits or higher deductibles and co-payments for mental health and substance abuse services. It covers health plans for more than 50 employees, thus benefiting 113 million Americans nationwide.
The cost to the federal government in terms of income tax deductions of employers from health expenses is about $3.4 billion in the next decade.
New Mexico Republican Sen. Domenici helped put the bill for approval after joining a National Alliance on Mental Illness support group nearly 20 years ago. He has a daughter with schizophrenia and suffers from a progressive form of dementia that prompted him to not seek another term.
