THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 19, 1996 TAG: 9605170005
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
I am grateful to columnist Joan Beck for ``Mental illness should not be short-shrifted in legislation'' (Perspectives, May 7). Those of us who have steadily worked over the years in mental health have been acutely aware of the discrimination promulgated by the medical and insurance industries. We watch clients who seek advice on marital issues or who seek clarity regarding temper tantrums or nightmares be penalized by their insurance company. Their Healthy Virginian Plan is changed to a standard plan over the next three years.
A basic policy for the average family in a small-business situation costs $397.60 per month under the Healthy Virginia plan. The basic cost for the same plan cost $834.98 . This difference is the penalty for addressing simple issues which may or may not benefit from medication.
In attempts to cut costs, HMOs and managed-care policies have severely hampered peoples' choices. I have received a number of referrals from psychiatrists and pediatricians over the past six months that have warranted immediate attention. I could have seen these people within 24 hours, but they were required to phone their primary-care doctor, obtain permission and then discover that they must call the managed care's mental-health office to get authorization. They then receive an appointment two weeks later.
The clients who receive authorization for a therapeutic visit are often allowed only a few sessions, and if the diagnosis is Attention Deficit Disorder or Oppositional Disorder, the charges are denied. The insurance company views these disorders as chronic, and thus untreatable.
While the executives of these insurance companies rake in millions of dollars in salary, mental-health therapists continue the struggle of providing treatment. We can accept these unfairly imposed restraints on our health care or begin to speak out as citizens and demand a change. While the House and Senate argue over mental-health coverage, write your representatives and senators requesting parity and the freedom to choose your provider. In a society struggling with child abuse, family violence and serial murders, you would think it would be a priority to address without limitation the nation's mental health.
. I strongly support equal inclusion of mental-health treatment in the current health legislation.
PHILIP G. DAVIDSON, LCSW
Norfolk, May 9, 1996 by CNB