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12/29/06
- GOVERNOR TAFT SIGNS OHIO PARITY BILL!
At a small ceremony, in the Governor's Cabinet Room at the Statehouse on December 29, 2006 at 1 p.m., Governor Bob Taft signed Ohio's Mental Health Parity Bill into law, making Ohio the 38th state to pass parity! Representing the OPA were Marion Sherman, MD, President, S.R. Thorward, MD, Co-Chair of the OPA Government Relations Committee and APA Representative and Janet Shaw, Executive Director.
Substitute Senate Bill 116, sponsored by Sen. Robert Spada, prohibits discrimination in group health care policies, contracts and agreements in the coverage provided for the diagnosis, care and treatment of biologically based mental illnesses. Biologically based mental illnesses are defined in the bill as: "schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, paranoia and other psychotic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder, as these terms are defined in the most recent edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders published by the American psychiatric association." The bill excludes the larger, self-insured plans covered under the federal ERISA statute and not subject to state insurance regulations. In addition, the bill also allows small businesses to opt out of the requirement if their costs exceed 1%.
"Untreated mental illnesses impose great costs on individuals, families, schools, employers and government," Taft said. "Ensuring access to appropriate treatment for people with a mental illness improves productivity for adults and school success for children."
"This is an exciting and historic day for psychiatric physicians and their patients" said Janet Shaw, OPA Executive Director. "For nearly two decades, the Ohio Psychiatric Association, has been one of the leading organizations advocating for the passage of mental health parity. Thousands of Ohioans will now benefit from the passage of this legislation. OPA members and all the other advocates (in recent years and all those who came before us) who have worked so tirelessly can be proud of their accomplishments and perseverance!"
Substitute Senate Bill 116 will go into effect 90 days after it is signed by the Governor and filed with the Secretary of State.
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