In Brief: Equal treatment for mental health: Costs and benefits

In Brief

Equal treatment for mental health: Costs and benefits

Published: July, 2006

Health plans can provide equal benefits for mental illness without incurring runaway costs, according to a study published in March in the New England Journal of Medicine, but only with some form of managed care.

Since 2001, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program has provided the same coverage for mental health, substance abuse, and general medical payments. The arrangement is called parity.

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