Segment 10 - The Effects of the Mental Health Parity Act

Over the long haul, Paul Gionfriddo expects that the Mental Health Parity Act will help rectify the situation where mental health professionals are paid so inadequately for the services, although in the short haul the effects are much more subtle.

“I think in the short haul where parity was really important was in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, because it put mental health services into the essential services and essential benefits of all health insurance plans,” he said.

Stuart Lustig, MD, praised the Mental Health Parity Act because he views anything that helps reduce the stigma of mental health and increases the access to care for people with mental illness as beneficial.