Pubdate: Mon, 09 Jun 2003
Source: Press & Sun Bulletin (NY)
Contact:  2003 Press & Sun Bulletin
Website: http://www.pressconnects.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/878
Author: Jay Gallagher
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

'TIMOTHY'S LAW' NEAR SENATE VOTE

Bill Seeks Mental-Health Parity

ALBANY -- On March 16, 2001, Donna O'Clair of Schenectady went food 
shopping with one of her sons. When they returned home, she found that her 
youngest, 12-year-old Timothy, had hanged himself in the closet in his bedroom.

Largely because of that incident, state lawmakers are considering approving 
a sweeping expansion of mental-health services that health-insurance 
policies have to cover. The bill has already passed the Assembly, and 
Senate action could come as early as this week. To its supporters, the 
passage of the bill would end what they see as discrimination against those 
with mental illness. Treatment of emotional and behavior disorders, as well 
as drug addiction and alcoholism, would be covered to the same extent as 
physical problems such as heart attacks and cancer.

But to its detractors, passage of the measure would mean fewer New Yorkers 
would be able to afford health insurance and thousands would be added to 
the rolls of the state's uninsured. That's because the mandate would drive 
up premiums.

"We're basically looking at stamping out discrimination and injustice 
against those who are mentally ill," said Assemblyman Paul Tonko, 
D-Amsterdam, Montgomery County, sponsor of the Assembly bill.

"People with mental illness are as sick as individuals with prostate cancer 
or breast cancer. Why should they be left out?" asked Senate sponsor Thomas 
W. Libous, R-Binghamton.

But opponents worry about the cost.

"I was told when I came to Albany that we're all against unfunded mandates, 
until we see one," said freshman Assemblyman Daniel Hooker, R-Sharon 
Springs, Schoharie County. He was referring to the often-criticized 
practice of state government to require local governments, businesses and 
other groups to incur costs without providing the money to pay for them.

"There's simply not enough money in government coffers or in the checkbooks 
of businesses to pay for every nice idea we have," he said.

Timothy O'Clair has become the focus of the debate because he exhausted all 
of the mental-health care his family's policy had: 30 days of in-patient 
care and 20 outpatient visits.

But his problems didn't end when his benefits ran out. His father, Tom, 
said that sometimes Timothy would kick his mother in the shins, attack his 
siblings or try to hurt himself.

His parents, who have traveled around the state for months to build support 
for the bill, eventually turned over custody of their troubled son to 
Schenectady County. That way he qualified for Medicaid, the 
taxpayer-financed health-insurance program. That allowed him to be sent to 
a residential-treatment center for seven months, on the taxpayer tab, 
before being allowed to return home. But six weeks after his return home, 
he committed suicide.

The measure breezed through the Democrat-led Assembly, but faces a stiffer 
test in the Republican-run Senate.

While Libous is solidly behind the bill, Senate Majority Leader Joseph 
Bruno, R-Brunswick, Rensselaer County, hasn't said whether he supports it.

"A lot of people have expressed support for this legislation," said Bruno 
spokesman Mark Hansen. But "there have been concerns raised about the 
potential financial impact of the bill." He said the Senate hoped some form 
of the bill could be enacted before lawmakers leave town. That's supposed 
to happen some time before the end of the month.

Gov. George E. Pataki, who would have to sign the bill for it to become 
law, hasn't said whether he supports it.

Opponents and supporters of the bill have widely varying estimates of how 
much so-called "mental-health parity" would cost.

Supporters put it at about $1.26 per month per health-insurance subscriber, 
or about 1 percent, while opponents say it could be as high as $7.56 per 
month, or about 3 percent. Both cite the experience of other states and 
studies to buttress their positions.

The higher cost would be tacked on at a time when businesses are already 
struggling with sharply higher costs for health insurance, business 
spokesmen said.

"At a time when rising health-care costs are already driving double-digit 
premium increases, scrutinizing the cost impact of proposed mandates no 
matter how well intentioned is particularly critical," said Mark Amodeo of 
the state Conference of Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans.

"We think it's bad public policy to require richer insurance benefits for a 
diminishing few," said state Business Council spokesman Matthew Maguire.

The council figures, based on surveys, show that for every 1 percent 
premiums go up, 30,000 people will lose coverage, since either they or 
their employers will decide they can't afford to offer health insurance. 
That would add to the more than 3 million New Yorkers now lacking coverage.

The state already has more than 30 mandated benefits that add $1,000 a year 
to the health-insurance costs of the average family, according to a study 
cited by the Business Council.

If the council's estimates are right, as many as 90,000 people would lose 
coverage. Of those, statistically 48 would be expected to contract colon 
cancer and 114 breast cancer, Maguire said, extrapolating from state Health 
Department statistics.

Beyond that, "that's 90,000 people who not only won't get enriched 
mental-health coverage, but not maternity care, asthma, cancer, well-baby 
visits and basic hospitalization," he said.

The proponents, who point out that 33 other states have some form of parity 
requirement, think only one-third as many people would be affected.

Health Department statistics also show that 1,266 New Yorkers committed 
suicide in 2000, the most recent numbers available. That included 82 
children under 19. The bill supporters say that could be cut significantly 
if more treatment is available.

"There is an opportunity to allow hope to enter into the equation for those 
who struggle with mental illness," Tonko said.
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MAP posted-by: Alex