American Psychological Association and Mental Health Parity Law

[forum_admin]

APA Offers Free Resources for Public on Mental Health Parity Law

The American Psychological Association recently released free information for consumers to help them
understand a new law requiring insurance companies to cover mental and physical health equally. The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity, which passed last year, goes into effect on January 1, 2010. The law is designed to help improve access to appropriate mental health treatment for millions of Americans suffering from mental health disorders. This could include trauma victims suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome, teenage girls fighting to survive anorexia or bulimia, new mothers struggling with post-partum depression, children suffering from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and many people struggling with alcohol and substance use problems.

Consumers can read and download the document, "How Does the New Mental Health Parity Law Effect My Insurance Coverage?" at APA Help Center. Additionally, the APA Practice Organization is offering a free employer's guide to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act at PHWP: Website, as part of the association's Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program.

More than 57 million Americans suffer from a mental health disorder, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health.