The new mental health parity law has important limitations and exceptions.
David Rubenzahl, president of the Maxon Company, Irvington, N.Y., a benefit plan administrator, makes that point in an analysis of the new Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.
The act was folded into H.R. 1424, the bill that served as the vehicle for passage of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, and President Bush signed it into law Friday along with EESA.
The federal mental health parity law that has been in effect requires health plans that offer mental health benefits to offer the same amount of coverage for mental health care that they offer for other types of medical care.