Most Americans Unaware Of Mental Health Reforms
blondieblue227
Va, USA Posts: 4,509
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/01/ ... rms/12087/
By MICHELLE DIAMENT
January 25, 2011
The vast majority of Americans are unfamiliar with new insurance requirements for mental health care and that could explain why many people don’t seek treatment, a new survey suggests.
In a poll of 2,940 adults conducted by the American Psychological Association and Harris Interactive in December, 87 percent said they were not familiar with a recently enacted federal law beefing up mental health coverage.
Under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, health insurers are required to apply the same coverage limits and payment requirements for mental health treatment that govern other types of medical services. In the past, a trip to the psychiatrist, for example, frequently incurred a higher co-pay or was subject to limits that differed from those for physical ailments.
The new rules apply to large group insurance plans that include mental health coverage.
“Laws alone have clearly not been enough to put parity into full use. Our survey shows that too few Americans are aware of these new rights and too many people have avoided treatment because of costs,” said psychologist Katherine Nordal, executive director for professional practice at the American Psychological Association.
In the survey, 56 percent of respondents pointed to cost as a reason that they or a family member might not seek treatment for a mental health issue.
By MICHELLE DIAMENT
January 25, 2011
The vast majority of Americans are unfamiliar with new insurance requirements for mental health care and that could explain why many people don’t seek treatment, a new survey suggests.
In a poll of 2,940 adults conducted by the American Psychological Association and Harris Interactive in December, 87 percent said they were not familiar with a recently enacted federal law beefing up mental health coverage.
Under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, health insurers are required to apply the same coverage limits and payment requirements for mental health treatment that govern other types of medical services. In the past, a trip to the psychiatrist, for example, frequently incurred a higher co-pay or was subject to limits that differed from those for physical ailments.
The new rules apply to large group insurance plans that include mental health coverage.
“Laws alone have clearly not been enough to put parity into full use. Our survey shows that too few Americans are aware of these new rights and too many people have avoided treatment because of costs,” said psychologist Katherine Nordal, executive director for professional practice at the American Psychological Association.
In the survey, 56 percent of respondents pointed to cost as a reason that they or a family member might not seek treatment for a mental health issue.
*~Pearl Jam will be blasted from speakers until morale improves~*
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Comments
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
any numbers to back that up...?
Nope - just my own misguided opinions
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
really? why? I'm a social work major so I'm curious.
Wash me in the blood of Rock & Roll
The overwhelming number of people on anti-depressants, for example.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
Why is that a problem? You could say the same thing about almost any class of medications. Depression is a serious problem, and I think the more people seek treatment for their illnesses the better.
Wash me in the blood of Rock & Roll
Maybe so, but I was simply responding to the thread topic that says "MOST Americans unaware of Mental Health Reforms" and the point that many do not seek treatment.
I'm saying that it sure seems like many do seek treatment. Maybe too many in my opinion. Not everything is a mental health issue that needs to be treated.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
Well, given how often people in your country snap and bring a gun to shoot up a crowd, I'd definitely say that it seems way too few have contact with mental health professionals...
(That some perhaps has too much is another matter. Which is why ability to pay shouldn't be the sole decider on health mental or physical, but I digress.)
Peace
Dan
"Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965