Mental health advocates want the state to revise the proposed autism-treatment law to require health insurance to cover mental illness.
They endorse the legislation to mandate that private insurance providers cover autism related-disorders, but say mental health disorders need equal coverage.
Michael Brashears, executive director of Community Mental Health in Ottawa County, said the biggest problem in his county is not just autism, but also other moderate mental conditions.
Autism is not more severe than other disorders. We see more cases of moderate forms of developmental disabilities such as conduct disorder, depressive disorders and anxiety that affect both children and adults in our areas, he said.
Gov. Rick Snyder has endorsed legislation to require private health insurance to cover autism treatment.
Brashears noted that private and public insurance and Medicaid cover only severe mental disorders, while people with moderate conditions who dont have insurance or whose private insurance doesnt cover their condition are left on their own.
Why do we force people to become extremely ill when we can treat them with moderate conditions? We wait until the emergency level, and at this point the treatment costs more and can be less successful, Brashears said.
Robert Sprague, executive director of Lapeer County Community Mental Health Services, said severe and moderate cases of mental disorders among children are at the same level as autism.
His agency serves about 1,600 clients, including 350 children with Downs syndrome, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and lifelong developmental disabilities.
I dont think any particular mental issues should be singled out. It is difficult to tell parents of another child, with another disability, that their child is not covered. Those families need to pay from their pocket, and many times it is a financial hardship, he said.
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Agencies call for parity in mental health insurance coverage