The house of representatives has passed a bill that could end discriminatory reimbursement practices for outpatient mental health services. The bill, passed June 25, ends "40 years of discrimination against patients just because they need mental health treatments," said Nada Stotland, MD, president of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), in a press release.

Bill HR6331 mandates that mental health services will no longer be subject to a 50% co-payment. Outpatient mental health treatment would be subject to the same 20% co-payment as that charged for all other Medicare part B services. The bill also blocks a 10.6% cut for reimbursement to physicians and other health professionals through 2009.

Dr. Stotland told Medscape Psychiatry, "The bill also requires [Medicare Part D coverage] for effective and commonly used medications (benzodiazepines and barbiturates) and will help ensure that medically vulnerable patients” - including psychiatric patients - will have access to the medications they need for their treatment."

It's not yet known whether President Bush will veto the bill, should the Senate pass it. The bill is important when you consider the vast number of adults who suffer from anxiety disorder, PTSD, and depression. Estimates show that anxiety disorders affect over 40 million American adults over the age of 18 each year. Stress and depression are directly linked to increased risk for cardiovascular events and other chronic illnesses.

The American Psychiatric Association plans to "continue to advocate for this legislation until it becomes law. It is unconscionable to require the elderly and disabled to pay half the cost of their mental healthcare out of pocket. This change makes social and economic sense", says Dr. Stotland.

We will have to wait and see what happens next.  Such changes would be welcome for the many patients who have limited access to medications and therapies necessary to improve quality of life.