Comments on: Health Reform has a Mental Health Trojan Horse http://healthblog.ncpa.org/health-reform-has-a-mental-health-trojan-horse/ Health Care Policy and Reform Insights | NCPA Thu, 24 May 2012 02:53:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Charles http://healthblog.ncpa.org/health-reform-has-a-mental-health-trojan-horse/comment-page-1/#comment-51606 Charles Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:02:19 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=8183#comment-51606 The problem with mental health is that people who have diagnosable conditions -- even severe ones -- often fail to get treatment. It is highly unlikely people will rush into psychiatrist's offices simply because insurance coverage is available. Under most insurance plans, and parity legislation, that coverage is available NOW. But, it is under-utilized. Cost-effective and reliable treatments are readily available. Currently, depression alone costs us $30 billion annually. If people who are depressed would seek treatment, it is likely that dollar figure would be significantly lower. To those of you above who opine that mental health is a "bottomless pit" or a Trojan horse: God forbid anyone you love succumbs to severe depression or mental illness! I suspect your opinion would undergo a radical change. Same goes for John Goodman and the misinformed authors of the NY Times editorial. No one is immune. The problem with mental health is that people who have diagnosable conditions — even severe ones — often fail to get treatment. It is highly unlikely people will rush into psychiatrist’s offices simply because insurance coverage is available. Under most insurance plans, and parity legislation, that coverage is available NOW. But, it is under-utilized.

Cost-effective and reliable treatments are readily available. Currently, depression alone costs us $30 billion annually. If people who are depressed would seek treatment, it is likely that dollar figure would be significantly lower.

To those of you above who opine that mental health is a “bottomless pit” or a Trojan horse: God forbid anyone you love succumbs to severe depression or mental illness! I suspect your opinion would undergo a radical change. Same goes for John Goodman and the misinformed authors of the NY Times editorial. No one is immune.

]]> By: Bruce http://healthblog.ncpa.org/health-reform-has-a-mental-health-trojan-horse/comment-page-1/#comment-51488 Bruce Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:19:22 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=8183#comment-51488 It looks like they are going to do administratively what they could never accomplish legislatively. Too bad. this is likely to be very costly. It looks like they are going to do administratively what they could never accomplish legislatively. Too bad. this is likely to be very costly.

]]> By: Tom H. http://healthblog.ncpa.org/health-reform-has-a-mental-health-trojan-horse/comment-page-1/#comment-51482 Tom H. Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:38:17 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=8183#comment-51482 I agree with Vicki. It's a bottomless pit. I agree with Vicki. It’s a bottomless pit.

]]> By: Vicki http://healthblog.ncpa.org/health-reform-has-a-mental-health-trojan-horse/comment-page-1/#comment-51479 Vicki Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:14:43 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=8183#comment-51479 You are right. This is going to be a Trojan Horse. There is no limit to how much you can spend on mental health care. You are right. This is going to be a Trojan Horse. There is no limit to how much you can spend on mental health care.

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