title: Parity and the use of out-of-network mental health benefits in the FEHB program.
abstract: 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.
authors: American Psychiatric Institute for Research and Education, Arlington, Virginia, USA. dregier@psych.org
authors: Darrel A
authors: DA
authors: Regier
authors: Lynn F
authors: LF
authors: Bufka
authors: Tracy
authors: T
authors: Whitaker
authors: Farifteh F
authors: FF
authors: Duffy
authors: William E
authors: WE
authors: Narrow
authors: Donald S
authors: DS
authors: Rae
authors: Geoffrey M
authors: GM
authors: Reed
authors: Omar F
authors: OF
authors: Rehman
authors: Maritza
authors: M
authors: Rubio-Stipec
authors: Toby
authors: T
authors: Weismiller
authors: Joshua E
authors: JE
authors: Wilk
authors: Joyce C
authors: JC
authors: West
mesh_terms: 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