Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News’ weekly health policy news podcast, “What the Health?” A noted expert on health policy issues, Julie is the author of the critically praised reference book “Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z,” now in its third edition.
The Biden administration continued a bipartisan, decades-long effort to ensure that health insurance treats mental illnesses the same as other ailments, with a new set of regulations aimed at ensuring that services are actually available without years-long waits or excessive out-of-pocket costs.
Meanwhile, two more committees in Congress approved bills this week aimed at reining in the power of pharmacy benefit managers, who are accused of keeping prescription drug prices high to increase their bottom lines.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Anna Edney of Bloomberg, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet.
The article “KFF Health News: What the Health? Another try for mental health ‘parity'” discusses the ongoing efforts to achieve true mental health “parity” in the United States. “Parity” refers to the equal treatment of mental health and physical health conditions, ensuring that insurance coverage for mental health services is on par with that of physical health services. Despite the existing laws, mental health care access and affordability have remained challenging for many Americans. The article highlights recent legislative initiatives addressing these disparities and the hurdles faced in their implementation.
Efforts to achieve mental health parity have been met with various obstacles, including inadequate enforcement, complex insurance regulations, and discrimination against mental health providers. Advocacy groups and lawmakers are pushing for comprehensive policy changes to improve access to mental health care, reduce out-of-pocket costs, and ensure fair reimbursement rates for mental health professionals.
The article underscores the importance of continued awareness and advocacy to overcome barriers to mental health parity. By implementing meaningful reforms and holding insurance providers accountable, the aim is to create a healthcare system that treats mental health on an equal footing with physical health.
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