Mental Health Parity

NASW was an original co-author of a bill that would establish comprehensive mental health and substance abuse parity, equal insurance coverage for all diagnosable conditions. NASW is part of the Massachusetts Mental Health Coalition, the authors of the legislation. The drafted bill also established that the determination of “medical necessity” would not be in the sole hands of the insurer.

The NASW Board of Directors approved this legislation, despite its reservations about the loss of the $500 mandate and the Confidentiality Act of 1996, Chapter 8. But the Board reasoned that the legislation did establish the legal basis for gaining more for clients and providers than ever before. It acknowledged that concerted action after passage by the mental health community, the Legislature and other allies would be critical in making sure such a law would not be mere window dressing.

The bill was re-written by the Legislature to offer full parity for diagnoses that are biologically-based and an increase to 24 sessions for all other diagnoses.