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Press Release
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EMERGENCY STABILIZATION ACT OF 2008 TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON NTP INDUSTRY
10/6/2008 - Canoga Park, California, For years Aegis has supported state legislative efforts to include mental health and alcohol and other drug addiction services under health insurance coverage and bring their coverage into “parity” with coverage under the state Medicaid program known as Medi-Cal. Most recently, AB 1887 (Beall) passed both chambers of the California Legislature only to be vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Aegis Vice President Steve Maulhardt is pleased to confirm that the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (Wall Street bail-out bill) that was approved by Congress last week has a special provision that mandates parity coverage for addiction and mental-health care, and President George Bush swiftly signed the measure into law. The long-held dream of parity in behavioral healthcare is now a reality.
Formally called “The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008” (named for the Senators who sponsored the parity bill) is now inextricably tied to the bail-out bill. Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) and Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) co-sponsored the House version of the bill. Both versions had passed the legislative process in their respective houses but had not been reconciled nor presented to the President for his signature. This Federal bill would bar insurers from placing restrictions on mental health and addiction care that don't apply to other health conditions, although it does not specifically require insurance plans to include coverage for addictive and mental-health disorders.
Maulhardt said “Now, the state legislature should be able to pass legislation to be consistent with Federal law.” This should lead to a requirement that health care plans such as HMO’s and PPO’s in California will cover services and medications for mental health and alcohol and drug recovery services, comparable to the coverage that is provided by Medicare and Medicaid (known in California as Medi-Cal).
Aegis Medical Systems, Inc. operates the largest chain of narcotic treatment programs in California. Headquartered in Canoga Park, Aegis has 25 clinics throughout the state serving over 5,000 patients per day. For the last eleven years, Aegis has been pursuing a proactive agenda geared towards raising clinical standards and regulatory compliance, through reinforcement of its unique philosophy and organizational culture called the Aegis Model.
Contact Person:
Thaiphong Vo, Executive Assistant
Aegis Medical Systems, Inc.
(818)206-0360
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