Mental health advocates worry about possible federal parity bill

"The House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that would require health insurers to cover treatments for addiction and mental conditions the same way they provide for physical illnesses." (Source: "House bill mandates mental health coverage," San Francisco Chronicle, March 6, 2008.) "But some mental health advocates say the well-intentioned legislation could a have a negative impact by overriding laws in (states like) California, where health plans already are required to cover major mental illnesses. Because the federal bill would not mandate plans to cover mental health ... such a law could raise rates and cause some employers to drop mental health coverage altogether."