State Mandates for Treatment for Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Disorders

• NCJ Number: 222602
• Author(s): Gail K. Robinson; Jerome B. Connolly; Melanie Whitter; Candy A. Magana
• Date Published: 2006
• Length: 72 pages
• Contract Number(s): 282-98-0006
• Sponsoring Agency: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Admin (SAMHSA)
• Corporate Author: Abt Associates, Inc
• Sale Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Admin (SAMHSA)
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded May 6, 2008

Annotation

This report presents information on the current status of State-mandated insurance coverage for mental and substance-use disorders and analyzes trends in this type of coverage.

Abstract

The report is organized under three main topics: State-mandated benefits for mental illness and substance-use disorders, State laws that regulate behavioral health care workers, and those workers' authority to prescribe psychotropic medication. The section on State-mandated benefits for mental illness and substance-use disorders identifies States that require insurance companies to provide coverage for their insurees who have mental or substance-use disorders. It also notes the type of coverage and diagnostic conditions to which the insurance applies. Typically, States use one of three methods to require insurance companies to cover behavioral health conditions: coverage that requires insurers to provide equal mental and physical health benefits if the insurers choose to offer coverage for behavioral health conditions; coverage that requires insurance for specific behavioral health conditions; and coverage that requires insurance for behavioral health conditions equal to insurance provided for physical health conditions. Most States have enacted legislation with these types of provisions; however, concerns about rising health care costs have caused State legislatures to scale back previously required benefits. The report's section on State laws that regulate behavioral health care workers pertains to States' statutory authorization for such workers to practice under licensure and/or certification standards set by the State. States generally license mental health practitioners and certify substance-use treatment providers. The section of the report that addresses State-recognized authority for behavioral health care workers to prescribe psychotropic medication contains a related section that identifies jurisdictions that have considered or enacted legislation that prohibits school employees from requiring or recommending psychotropic drugs for children. 11 tables