Comments on: Sleeping with the Enemy: Update on the “Mental Health Parity” Law http://healthblog.ncpa.org/sleeping-with-the-enemy-update-on-the-%e2%80%9cmental-health-parity%e2%80%9d-law/ Health Care Policy and Reform Insights | NCPA Fri, 25 May 2012 07:13:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Devon Herrick http://healthblog.ncpa.org/sleeping-with-the-enemy-update-on-the-%e2%80%9cmental-health-parity%e2%80%9d-law/comment-page-1/#comment-62656 Devon Herrick Mon, 10 May 2010 22:21:20 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=10506#comment-62656 Around 1990 I applied for a job as an assistant controller at a free-standing, psychiatric facility in Texas. I didn't get the job -- they told me an internal candidate, with similar experience, was offered the position. A few months later an expose' appeared in the Dallas Morning News about how this chain of psychiatric facilities (among others) would admit well-insured patients (typically teenagers) suffering from garden-variety anxiety or depression, by convincing family members the patients were suicide risks. Once the insurance benefits were all maxed out, the psych hospital would discharge the patient as miraculously cured! Under poorly-written mental health parity regulations, we can expect more of this type of gaming the system – except this time there will be no limit on psychiatric benefits. Around 1990 I applied for a job as an assistant controller at a free-standing, psychiatric facility in Texas. I didn’t get the job — they told me an internal candidate, with similar experience, was offered the position. A few months later an expose’ appeared in the Dallas Morning News about how this chain of psychiatric facilities (among others) would admit well-insured patients (typically teenagers) suffering from garden-variety anxiety or depression, by convincing family members the patients were suicide risks. Once the insurance benefits were all maxed out, the psych hospital would discharge the patient as miraculously cured!

Under poorly-written mental health parity regulations, we can expect more of this type of gaming the system – except this time there will be no limit on psychiatric benefits.

]]> By: Virginia http://healthblog.ncpa.org/sleeping-with-the-enemy-update-on-the-%e2%80%9cmental-health-parity%e2%80%9d-law/comment-page-1/#comment-62649 Virginia Mon, 10 May 2010 21:47:33 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=10506#comment-62649 I agree. Costs are always passed on to the consumer. I agree. Costs are always passed on to the consumer.

]]> By: Ken http://healthblog.ncpa.org/sleeping-with-the-enemy-update-on-the-%e2%80%9cmental-health-parity%e2%80%9d-law/comment-page-1/#comment-62647 Ken Mon, 10 May 2010 21:24:44 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=10506#comment-62647 This sort of meddling is only the beginning. I assume everyone both in and out of the industry knows that. This sort of meddling is only the beginning. I assume everyone both in and out of the industry knows that.

]]> By: Larry C. http://healthblog.ncpa.org/sleeping-with-the-enemy-update-on-the-%e2%80%9cmental-health-parity%e2%80%9d-law/comment-page-1/#comment-62645 Larry C. Mon, 10 May 2010 20:47:48 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=10506#comment-62645 Right. They get what they deserve, but we pay for what they deserve. Right. They get what they deserve, but we pay for what they deserve.

]]> By: Paul H. http://healthblog.ncpa.org/sleeping-with-the-enemy-update-on-the-%e2%80%9cmental-health-parity%e2%80%9d-law/comment-page-1/#comment-62642 Paul H. Mon, 10 May 2010 20:32:45 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=10506#comment-62642 Bruce, unfortunately you are going to pay for this whether you sympathize or not. The costs are passed through to the innocent. Bruce, unfortunately you are going to pay for this whether you sympathize or not. The costs are passed through to the innocent.

]]> By: Bruce http://healthblog.ncpa.org/sleeping-with-the-enemy-update-on-the-%e2%80%9cmental-health-parity%e2%80%9d-law/comment-page-1/#comment-62637 Bruce Mon, 10 May 2010 20:03:15 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=10506#comment-62637 They (the insurance companies and the employers)are getting exactly what they deserve. I have no sympathy. They (the insurance companies and the employers)are getting exactly what they deserve. I have no sympathy.

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