Parity and the use of out-of-network mental health benefits in the FEHB program.
Two current congressional bills mandate parity for benefits for mental disorders with benefits for medical/surgical conditions in private insurance when mental health benefits are provided; the bills differ in regard to benefit levels and access to out-of-network coverage. This study assessed clinicians' and beneficiaries' participation in managed care networks in the national capital area under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) parity program. Approximately one-third of the clinicians studied participated in FEHB networks, and only 44 percent of FEHB patients received care from network clinicians. Out-of-network mental health benefits are an important policy consideration to ensure access to mental health treatment under parity proposals.
Regier
Darrel A
DA
American Psychiatric Institute for Research and Education, Arlington, Virginia, USA. dregier@psych.org
Bufka
Lynn F
LF
Whitaker
Tracy
T
Duffy
Farifteh F
FF
Narrow
William E
WE
Rae
Donald S
DS
Reed
Geoffrey M
GM
Rehman
Omar F
OF
Rubio-Stipec
Maritza
M
Weismiller
Toby
T
Wilk
Joshua E
JE
West
Joyce C
JC
D000328:Adult; D035082:Federal Government; D006077:Government Agencies; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee; D006801:Humans; D007358:Insurance, Psychiatric / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States