Public Policy & Advocacy
MHA leads efforts that promote positive legislation and impact public and private attitudes. MHA strives to affect policies that benefit children and adults with a mental illness or a behavioral health disorder.
- Insurance Parity
- Legislative Agenda
Insurance Parity
Pursuing health care equality.
Although MHA is highly supportive of many crucial legislative bills, insurance parity is at the top of our legislative agenda. Parity can have a great impact on improving access to care and treatment for mental illness in the private sector, while reducing the burden on the public system.
Arizona's employer-provided health insurance plans are not required to provide the same level of mental health care as they do for physical disorders. In the absence of comprehensive mental health and substance abuse coverage, needy Arizonans ultimately do not receive treatment or must turn to the overburdened, tax-supported public system.
As of 2007, the Federal Government and 36 states have passed some form of insurance parity. Bills have been introduced in Congress to expand parity at the federal level. MHA hoped Arizona would be added to the list of states with full parity in 2000. Unfortunately, the house and senate parity bills (HB2603 and SB1091) died when they were assigned to two committees.
Support parity by joining more than 100 organizations that are already members of "Partners for Parity." Help us in our efforts to improve access to mental health coverage. Register yourself or your organization by calling MHAAZ at (480) 994-4407.
Legislative Agenda
Mental Health Insurance Parity
MHA supports passage of a comprehensive mental health insurance parity bill that requires insurance companies to treat all illnesses on an equal basis and prevents discrimination against individuals with a mental illness.
©2008 Mental Health America of Arizona
6411 E. Thomas Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
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