Insuring Mental Health Addiction Services

By: Senator Joe Vitale

Insurance coverage for alcohol addiction and mental health treatment would be greatly enhanced under a bill I have sponsored in the Senate along with Senator Barbara Buono. Mental health problems, alcohol and drug addictions, anorexia nervosa and other diseases need to be covered in the same manner as those which currently are. This is the right and fair thing to do for those suffering from the burdens of mental health problems and alcohol and drug addictions. We must provide a seamless health care safety net for those in need.

Parity is needed in order to provide services for residents that suffer from certain diseases like post traumatic stress disorder and other emotional disorders. People who can not afford treatment for these types of disorders are left with little, if any, options. Currently, there are a number of “biologically-based mental illnesses” that are covered. We must go further to include a broader range of diseases that greatly affect the population of New Jersey.

The bill would apply to state regulated health insurance contracts including hospital medical and health service corporations, commercial health insurers and the State Health Benefits Plan. The key section of the provision would expand the definition of treatment of alcoholism and substance abuse to include inpatient and outpatient care, detoxification, screening and assessment, and non-hospital residential treatment.

Early diagnosis and treatment of non-biologically based mental illnesses including alcohol and drug addiction will help prevent greater health care costs in the long run. The treatment community has made significant progress in the last decade to break the cycles of addiction with extremely positive, life-saving consequences. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Legislature to pass this legislation during this session.

Joe Vitale is a State Senator representing New Jersey's 19th Legislative District. The Senator is the Deputy Majority Leader and Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee