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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.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Services Research Institute, 2336 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02140, USA

    Laysha Ostrow BS

  2. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Programs, Global Health Sector, SRA International, 6003 Executive Boulevard, Suite 400, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA

    Ronald Manderscheid PhD

  3. Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Ronald Manderscheid PhD

Authors
  1. Laysha Ostrow BS
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  2. Ronald Manderscheid PhD
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Correspondence to Laysha Ostrow BS.

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Ostrow, L., Manderscheid, R. Medicare Mental Health Parity: A High Potential Change that is Long Overdue. J Behav Health Serv Res 37, 285–290 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-009-9197-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-009-9197-8

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