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Parity, the term used for equal treatment of mental disorders and physical ailments in health care and insurance coverage, is a prime legislative objective for the TSA. For historical reasons TS has been classified as a mental disorder in the reference lists used by health maintenance organizations and health insurers. This is so despite the fact that TS is an inherited, neurobiological disorder characterized by involuntary movements and sounds. Both neurologists and psychiatrists treat the disorder, using the same medications. As a result of the arbitrary classification of TS in the mental health category, many people with severe TS have been denied or greatly limited in receiving treatment or reimbursement for expenses of treatment relating to hospital stays, office visits, and medications.
Congress took a limited step toward parity in 1996 by passing a law that prohibits annual and lifetime dollar limits on a person's mental health care that are lower than the limits for general medical and surgical services. In the 110th Congress, Representatives Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN) have reintroduced the bill formerly known as "Senator Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act" as the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act, H.R. 1424. The Act would modify the parity law by eliminating financial disparities (co-payments, deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs) and restrictions on the frequency of treatments (day and visits limits). The bill simply calls for the same level of coverage for mental health care as is provided for medical and surgical care.
The primary argument given against parity is increased health care cost. However, a 1998 report to Congress from the NIMH found health costs increased one percent or less for businesses and states that adopted parity. Also, a Congressional Budget Office analysis of last years bills S.543 and H.R. 4066 (Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act) predicted only a 1% increase in health insurance premiums would result from its implementation. The health plan premium increase appears small in comparison to the costs to the United States from currently untreated mental health.
©2007 Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc. 42-40 Bell Boulevard / Bayside NY 11361 / 718-224-2999