ADVOCACY ALERT ©NYS PTA® Advocacy Team
Stephanie Fehr November 2006
The New York State Senate unanimously passed "Timothy's Law," (S.8482/A.12080) to provide parity in insurance coverage for mental illnesses. The legislation, which has been sent to the Assembly, would require insurance companies to cover most mental illnesses and would require coverage for a broad range of mental illnesses and conditions specifically related to children. This legislation also equalizes co-payments and deductibles for treatment for mental illness with co-pays and deductibles for other physical ailments. The Assembly is expected to act on it before the end of the year to pass the legislation. It is not clear whether or not the Governor will sign the bill into law.
Your help is needed NOW to urge Governor Pataki to sign S.8482/A.12080 into law once it reaches his desk. Tell the Governor New Yorkers can’t afford to go without mental health care anymore. You can contact the Governor by:
- Calling:
Leave a message at (518) 474-1041 asking the Governor to sign Timothy’s Law. - Writing:
Governor George E. Pataki
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
Summary of Legislation:
This legislation requires that all insurance companies cover 30 inpatient days of treatment and 20 outpatient days of treatment for all mental illnesses (30/20 benefit) and requires that co-pays and deductibles for treatment for mental illness be equal to co-pays and deductibles for other physical ailments.
In addition, the agreed upon legislation requires insurance coverage for children under age 18 with attention deficit disorder, disruptive behavior disorders or pervasive development disorders where there are serious suicidal symptoms or other lifethreatening self-destructive behavior; significant psychotic symptoms (hallucinations, delusion, bizarre behaviors); behavior caused by emotional disturbances that placed the child at risk of causing personal injury or significant property damage; or behavior caused by emotional disturbances that placed the child at substantial risk of removal from the household.
