WHAT'S NEW
DBSA-Charlotte's next Board of Director's Meeting
Date: July 20th, 2008 at Saint Matthews Church
Where: 8015 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Charlotte, NC
Time: 2pm-4pm
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DBSA Outreaches at Pride Charlotte Festival
Date: July 26th, 2008
Where: Gateway Village
Time: 11am-6pm
*Contact us today if you are interested in volunteering at our DBSA booth!
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CANVAS on Showtime
The Showtime cable channel will broadcast the movie CANVAS five times from Wednesday, July 2 to Saturday, July 12. Please check the Showtime schedule
. Inspired by a true story, the movie portrays a family's battle with schizophrenia and is suitable for public and school libraries for public education as well as dramatic entertainment. It is available for purchase on DVD from Amazon.com. For permission for public, non-profit, educational screenings, please contact Screen Media Films._______________________________________________________
DBSA Convention: September 10-14
The Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) will hold its national convention in Norfolk, Virginia. Speakers will include Kay Redfield Jamison, Ph.D., and journalist Richard M. Cohen. For full program and registration information, please click here.
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Parity Law
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 marks an historic day in North Carolina with the enactment of the Mental Health Equitable Coverage Act. This legislation requires mandatory health insurance coverage of certain mental illnesses that have the same limits and benefits for physical illnesses under a group health plan. In addition, this legislation requires a minimum benefit package for other mental illnesses in group health insurance plans. While this act does provide some parity in other words same insurance coverage and benefits (and limits) for the treatment of mental illness as with physical illnesses under a group insurance plan -- this bill does not include all mental illnesses and substance abuse.
However, this law does provide that, effective tomorrow:
1. An insurer shall provide in each group health plan benefits for the care and treatment of mental illnesses that are no less favorable than the benefits in their group health plans for physical illnesses for persons diagnosed with: (a) bipolar disorder (manic depression), (b) major depressive disorder, (c) obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), (d) paranoid/other psychotic disorders, (e) schizoaffective disorder, (f) schizophrenia, (g) post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), (h) anorexia nervosa and (i) bulimia nervosa.
2. Group health plans must provide AT MINIMUM at least thirty (30) combined inpatient and outpatient days per year and at least thirty (30) office visits per year for those mental illness NOT LISTED IN #1 ABOVE.
3. Chemical dependency, substance abuse or treatment for sex changes are not covered under this legislation, except for chemical dependency benefits that are currently provided for under NC General Statute 58-68-25.
4. Insurance companies licensed in North Carolina cannot refuse to issue or deliver any health insurance policy just because the person has a mental illness or chemical dependency. In addition, the insurance companies licensed in NC cannot charge a higher premium rate for physical illnesses or injuries or reduce physical illnesses or injury coverage or other benefits for that individual -- again, just because the individual has a mental illness.
5. This Act become effective (Session Law 2007-268; House Bill 973) July 1, 2008 and applies to health benefit plans that are delivered, issued for delivery or renewed on or after July 1, 2008.
6. This Act is only for fully insured group health plans and does not cover self-insured groups. However, if legislation on the federal level passes, it will cover all groups including ERISA or self-insured groups.