| MPA Michigan Psychological Association [back to home page] |
Parity is the principle that mental health and physical health issues should be treated equally. Those with mental health issues have sometimes been devalued, stigmatized, and discriminated against. Unjust, discriminatory practices against those with mental health care needs are reflected in the insurance industry's restrictions of health care benefits of those with mental health diagnoses. MPA is opposed to the unjust practice of reduced benefits for those with mental health care needs. MPA favors PARITY or equality in health care for those who have either mental or physical health care issues. Thirty-Eight states have endorsed some sort of mental health parity legislation which has not had a noticeable impact on health insurance premiums.
CURRENT STATE PARITY LAWS 2005
|
STATE |
TYPE OF LAW |
YEAR PASSED/AMENDED |
PREMIUM CHANGE |
MENT. HEALTH COST SAVINGS |
|
Texas |
Diagnosis specific |
1991 state emp 1997 gen’l pop |
|
48% drop in MH costs PMPM |
|
Maryland |
Broad based +Sub Abuse |
1994 |
0.27% DROP |
|
|
Rhode Island |
Broad based +Sub Abuse |
1994 SMI 2001 |
O.33% INCREASE |
|
|
New Hampshire |
Diagnosis specific + Sub Abuse |
1994 2002 + SA |
<1% INCREASE |
|
|
Maine |
Broad based +Sub Abuse |
1995 SMI, 2003 |
|
|
|
Minnesota |
Broad based+Sub Abuse |
1995 |
5-6% DROP |
|
|
Arkansas |
Broad based |
1997 2001 + SCHIP |
|
|
|
Connecticut |
Broad based+Sub Abuse |
1997 SMI 1999 +SA |
|
|
|
Colorado |
Diagnosis specific |
1997 |
|
|
|
Vermont |
Broad based+Sub Abuse |
1997 |
1%INCREASE = $0.19 PMPM |
|
|
Georgia |
Broad based+Sub Abuse |
1998 |
|
|
|
Tennessee |
Broad based |
1998 |
|
|
|
Indiana |
Broad based+Sub Abuse |
1997 state employ |
|
|
|
Delaware |
Diagnosis specific + Sub Abuse |
1998, 2001 +SA |
|
|
|
Pennsylvania |
Diagnosis specific |
1998 |
|
|
|
South Dakota |
Diagnosis specific |
1998 |
|
|
|
Missouri |
Broad based |
1999 SMI, 2004 |
|
|
|
California |
Diagnosis specific |
1999 |
|
|
|
Hawaii |
Diagnosis specific |
1999 |
|
|
|
Louisiana |
Diagnosis specific |
1999 |
|
|
|
Montana |
Diagnosis specific |
1999 |
|
|
|
Nebraska |
Diagnosis specific |
1999 |
|
|
|
Nevada |
Diagnosis specific |
1999 |
|
|
|
New Jersey |
Diagnosis specific |
1999 |
|
|
|
Oklahoma |
Diagnosis specific |
1999 |
|
|
|
Virginia |
Diagnosis specific+SubAb |
1999 |
|
|
|
Alabama |
Broad based |
2000, 2002 |
|
|
|
Kentucky |
Broad based+Sub Abuse |
2000 |
|
|
|
New Mexico |
Broad based |
2000 |
|
|
|
Utah |
Broad based (Catastrophic) |
2000 |
|
|
|
Massachusetts |
Diagnosis specific |
2000 |
|
|
|
Mississippi |
Broad based (In-pt and partial hosp) |
2001 |
|
|
|
Illinois |
Diagnosis specific |
2001 |
|
|
|
Kansas |
Diagnosis specific |
2001 |
|
|
|
West Virginia |
Diagnosis specific +Sub Abuse |
2002 |
|
|
|
North Carolina |
Broad based+SubAbuse State employees only |
1991 1997 +SA |
|
38% DROP in MH costs |
|
Arizona |
Broad based but for state employees only |
2001 |
|
|
|
South Carolina |
Broad Based +Sub Abuse |
2000 |
|
|
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