Legislature Announces Agreement on Timothys Law

        Legislature Announces Agreement on Timothy's Law
                to Provide Mental Health Parity
 	
      Joint NYS Assembly/Senate News Release June 24, 2006
 
The New York State Legislature today announced agreement on 
"Timothy's Law" legislation that would provide parity in 
insurance coverage for mental illnesses. The agreement would 
require insurance companies to cover most mental illnesses and 
would require coverage for a broad range of mental illnesses 
and conditions specifically related to children. The 
legislative agreement is expected to be acted on the next time 
the Legislature reconvenes.
 
"Mental illness can result in tragedy if it is not properly 
treated, however many families do not have access to the proper 
treatment," Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said. "This 
agreement would provide parity in coverage and would help 
people get the treatment they need. I applaud Senator Tom 
Libous for the hard work he has done to address such a complex 
and critically important issue."
 
"This agreement represents a critical step toward providing the 
vital care that people with mental illnesses need," Senator Tom 
Libous said. "This agreement makes common sense reforms to 
improve access to care."
 
"For far too long mental health insurance coverage has been 
sorely lacking. Our families and friends deserve accessibility 
to affordable quality mental health care. Our agreed to bill 
will address millions of consumers with a dignified, 
compassionate and cost effective approach to treatments for 
mental illness and health disorders. With this legislation, no 
longer will people who struggle with mental illness be 
discriminated against," said Assemblyman Paul Tonko, the 
sponsor, who thanked Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver for 
resiliently working on behalf of Timothy's Law for the past 
four years.
 
"After four and a half years, it is gratifying to see the 
Legislature coming together and recognize the difficulties 
confronting families who need mental health insurance coverage. 
I look forward to the day when Timothy's Law is the law, and I 
urge this bill to be finalized as soon as possible. I am 
grateful for the efforts of both houses and their staffs for 
working to make Timothy's Law a reality," said Tom O'Clair, who 
urged Governor George Pataki to support our bipartisan mental-
health parity legislation.
 
The agreement includes the following provisions:
 	
* Coverage for Treatment of Mental Illnesses - The agreement
  would require insurance companies to cover 30 inpatient days
  of treatment and 20 outpatient days of treatment for all
  mental illnesses.
 
  The agreement would also require insurance companies to fully 
  cover biologically based mental illnesses, including the 
  following: Schizophrenia/psychotic disorders, Major Depression, 
  Bipolar Disorder, Delusional Disorders, Panic Disorder, 
  Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bulimia, Anorexia and Binge 
  Eating.
 	
* Coverage for Children with Mental Illness - In addition, the
  agreed upon bill would require insurance coverage for children
  under age 18 with attention deficit disorder, disruptive
  behavior disorders or pervasive development disorders where
  there are serious suicidal symptoms or other life-threatening
  self-destructive behavior; significant psychotic symptoms
  (hallucinations, delusion, bizarre behaviors); behavior caused
  by emotional disturbances that placed the child at risk of
  causing personal injury or significant property damage; or
  behavior caused by emotional disturbances that placed the
  child at substantial risk of removal from the household.
 
To address cost concerns raised by small businesses, the 
agreement directs the state Superintendent of Insurance to 
develop a methodology that would hold businesses with 50 of 
fewer employees harmless from any increase in insurance 
premiums that result from this measure.

The bill would also require the state Insurance Department and 
the Office of Mental Health to conduct a two year study to 
determine the effectiveness and impact of mental health parity 
legislation in New York and other states. When enacted, the 
bill would take effect January 1, 2007 and sunset on December 
31, 2009, to provide for an opportunity to amend the law based 
on the findings and recommendations of the study.

______________________________________________________________

For more Healthcare Issues news issues, see:
www.aapd.com/News/health/indexhealth.php

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