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A.8617-Tonko / S.5929- Morahan 

 The National Association of Social Workers New York State Chapter and its 12,000 members in the state strongly urges passage of A.8617/S.5929, a bill to expand mental health parity to public health insurance plans.

Last year the legislature passed and Governor Pataki signed legislation enacting parity in private health insurance plans in New York State, delivering a long-fought victory for mental health advocates and consumers of mental health services in the state. However, this bill, known as Timothy’s Law, did not apply to public health insurance plans such as Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus.

The public parity bill would increase access to mental health and substance abuse services under Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus by requiring that such services be provided at levels comparable to those for medical care. This is a logical next step in removing barriers to mental health treatment and reducing the stigma of mental illness in New York State.

Public health insurance plans serve many hard working New Yorkers whose employers either do not offer health coverage, or who cannot afford a private health plan; implementation of this bill would thus also remove a class barrier to proper mental health treatment. New York has always been a leader by serving people at all ends of the social spectrum and this bill would continue the state’s legacy in sensible, humane social policy.

The Assembly already demonstrated its whole-hearted support by passing this multi-sponsored bill with only a single ‘No’ vote. In this last week of session, NASW-NYS encourages you to push for the expansion mental health coverage to the thousands of children and families receiving public health benefits in New York. Support A.8627/S.5929.