Comprehensive MH/SA parity law realized its objectives: state law gets positive evaluation from SAMHSA.(mental health/substance abuse; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Mental Health Services)

In 1998, Vermont enacted what is still considered to be the most comprehensive law covering mental health and substance abuse parity. The law uses broad definitions of mental health and substance abuse and requires equal terms and conditions between general and behavioral health on deductibles, co-pays and treatment limits and covers the entire commercially insured population, with no exception for small businesses.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) last week released its anticipated evaluation of Vermont's parity law. The evaluation has been anticipated by the field because of the ongoing struggle among advocates to enact comprehensive mental health parity at the federal level. A positive evaluation of Vermont's law, particularly a showing that its costs were manageable, could go a long way toward convincing members of Congress that mental health parity is not only the right thing to do, but is also affordable.

With that goal in mind, the Vermont parity law seems to have attained its objective. The CMHS study, …