Comments on: Mental health “parity” insurance mandate

By: Carol Kalins

Carol Kalins — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:26:42 +0000

The insurance industry provides coverage for so many less than necessary or life saving treatments and medications. If providing mental health care saves a few people from shooting classmates or raping children, I think it is money well spent. Better than Viagra treatment or “in vitro” fertilization treatment!

By: William Nuesslein

William Nuesslein — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:01:44 +0000

Certainly, John Burgess’ comment was made with tongue-in-cheek, but he is right on the money. PTSD to a large degree follows Mr. Burgess’ comment.

There is such a thing as serious mental illness – Mr. Chau, the school shooter comes to mind. The question then is how many gaming-the-system cases are there for each valid case? US policy to date is that that ratio is too high. I know of no data to change that policy. In fact, the PTSD people recently plowed the public relations to put that problem on par with amputation. The propaganda actually creates PTSD cases through suggestion. We saw this effect in spades with the non-existent Gulf War Syndrom cases.

By: John Burgess

John Burgess — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 05:22:42 +0000

Okay, I’ve had it with playing by the rules. Now I’m going to start gaming the system.

This statement of intent is clear evidence that I’m mentally unstable.

Please send my check.

By: ras

ras — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:01:32 +0000

Will the treatment come with a warranty in the event it later proves defective?

By: Bob Neal

Bob Neal — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:34:34 +0000

The end result will be the dropping of mental health coverage altogether by many plans.

By: Richard Nieporent

Richard Nieporent — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:10:32 +0000

Congress is only being fair. After all they already passed a full employment act for lawyers in the guise of the ADA. The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity & Addiction Equity Act of 2008 will be a full employment act for psychiatrists and psychologists.

By: OBQuiet

OBQuiet — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:53:36 +0000

Jason,

I think it is more a accident of chance that the bill the Senate had to use to introduce a money item, the House id the one charged with that task, happened to include it.

By: Jason Barney

Jason Barney — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:39:03 +0000

And, what in the world exactly does this earmark have to do with the credit crisis, I wonder?