Medicare Mental Health Parity: A High Potential Change that is Long Overdue

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Abstract

Recent changes in legislation regarding mental health parity in Medicare will revolutionize payment for mental health care and delivery systems. This commentary discusses why this policy change was essential to promote adequate care for populations served by Medicare and to address expected changes in beneficiary, provider, and plan behavior as more equitable payments by Medicare are implemented.

Keywords

Medicare mental health benefits parity health reform health care financing 
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Copyright information

© National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare 2009

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Human Services Research InstituteCambridgeUSA
  2. 2.Mental Health and Substance Abuse ProgramsGlobal Health Sector, SRA InternationalRockvilleUSA
  3. 3.Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public HealthJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreUSA

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