Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno and Sen. Thomas Libous made the announcement along with “Tom O’Clair whose 12-year-old son Timothy took his own life in 2001 after repeated bouts of depression.” The details of the law are as follows from the online article:
COVERAGE FOR TREATMENT OF MENTAL ILLNESSES
The agreement would require insurance companies to cover 30 inpatient days of treatment and 20 outpatient days of treatment for all mental illnesses. The agreement would also require insurance companies to fully cover biologically based mental illnesses, including the following: Schizophrenia/psychotic disorders, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Delusional Disorders, Panic Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bulimia, Anorexia and Binge Eating.
COVERAGE FOR CHILDREN WITH MENTAL ILLNESS
In addition, the agreed upon bill would require 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 life-threatening 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.
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