State Budget - Mental Health Parity

Update: May 15, 2008

The budget does not include the Governor’s proposal to increase the minimum annual amount of insurance coverage that is provided for inpatient, outpatient and transitional treatment of mental health and substance abuse problems.  The proposal was removed along with other items that were considered as non-fiscal, policy issues.

WJC continues to work in a coalition to develop a legislative proposal to require full parity between standard medical benefits and mental health/substance abuse benefits in private health insurance policies.

May 2, 2007

Coverage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse: The Governor recommends increasing the minimum annual amount of insurance coverage that is provided for inpatient, outpatient and transitional treatment of mental health and substance abuse problems.

The minimum would increase to $20,250 for inpatient treatment, $3,450 for outpatient treatment and $5,200 for transitional treatment. In addition, the WJC continues to work in coalition to develop a legislative proposal this session to require full parity between standard medical benefits and mental health/substance abuse benefits in private health insurance policies.

Here are links to our budget pages:.