WHAT'S NEW

 

 

DBSA-Charlotte's next Board of Director's Meeting 2011

Date:  3rd Sunday of the month - Serenity Church

Time: 2pm-4pm

DBSA-Charlotte is a non-profit 501C3 Corporation

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Remember, We LOVE to eat after EVERY meeting each week!

Tuesday - Landmark * Thursday - Applebees * Saturday - Showmars

Come Join Us !!!

_____________________________________Great Things Are Happening Saturdays!__________________________________________

MONDAY AT THE MOVIES every week at 1:00pm - Matthews Cinemark Movie Theatre

Sam Newell Road @ Independence Boulevard - only .75 per person - can't beat the price and great company!

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 Parity Law

Tuesday, July 1, 2008 marked a 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:

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.