In yesterday’s clinical team meeting we were talking about the mental health parity law, which has been largely ineffective at ensuring access to care. One of the psychologists said, “I call it the mental health parody act,” because it is a parody of meaningful change.
That may be changing.
President Obama announced that the Sandy Hook school killings had galvanized him to finally release the regulations that would implement mental health parity.
Given the context (a sense of urgency about getting access for treatment) we are modestly optimistic that the regulations might actually have some teeth in them.
For more on the topic check out this LA Times article.
For information about parity check out the parity implementation coalition’s website.