Parity's perfect storm.

• Author: Vatz, Richard E.
• Position: HEALTH BEAT

THERE MAY BE SERIOUS mental problems which are covered by proposed national health care plans but, if Pres. Barack Obama thinks that is all that is covered in "mental health parity," he has not done his homework. Of course, he is not alone on that score. The treatment of all diagnosed mental illness and substance abuse dependency is the least publicly discussed and possibly the most invalid part of the proposed health care reform measures. Such expanded coverage constitutes the goal of true "parity" that, for more than a decade, has been fought for by the mental health profession. If there are no challenges to such coverage, mental health will be covered in national health insurance in a manner identical to physical illness or, as the bill says, in a manner which equals "nondiscrimination."

One does not hear much celebration regarding the impending victory by the mental health industry. This may be due to parity supporters' fearing that publicizing such an overwhelmingly radical change to mental health coverage on the precipice of success might elicit opposition and threaten its inclusion at the last moment. The lack of understanding of what "parity" in mental health coverage implies is profound. In a town hall meeting at Towson University, Sen. Ben Cardin (D.-Md.), a generally responsible and legislatively prepared individual, apparently did not have a clue concerning the tremendous increase in psychiatric treatment and counseling covered by the current health care reform plans. He did not appear to know that all "mental illnesses" are covered in currently considered plans comparably to physical illnesses. He said that he assumed the professionals know what they are doing and that "it's up to the medical community," unaware that a wealth of nonmedical, psychological problems will be covered fully without recourse and that 1,000,000 of society's neurotic or "worried well," as psychiatrists label those they concede have no physical illness, could see a psychiatrist, get diagnosed as having "social anxiety disorder" or an equally benign "disorder," and be in costly, insurance-covered therapy indefinitely. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) claims that more than 50% of Americans are mentally ill in their lifetime--and recent APA studies dwarf that statistic.

In a smaller debate, Maryland delegate Dan Morhaim of the 11th District presented an atypical horror story of a mentally disabled individual who could not get help. When the...