Medicaid and Mental Health Parity Act

http://www.medicaidpatients.com/medicaid-and-mental-health-parity-act/

Medicaid is a kind of public health insurance that targets the low-income individuals or families that cannot afford to seek medical help. State and federal funding regulate Medicaid.  Medicaid pays the service providers directly- doctors, hospitals, nursing facilities, clinics, psychotherapists, adult medical day cares and others. Medicaid also provides limited or optional services such as prescription drugs, dental and vision care.

Mental Health Parity Act prohibits insurers and healthcare providers from discriminating between benefits or coverage offered for mental illness (serious or otherwise) and physical diseases or illnesses. They should provide the same level of financial and treatment coverage that they offer for physical illnesses. These benefits include but are not limited to deductibles, copayments, lifetime and annual limits. Again, the mental health parity act law varies from state to state. Some states may offer broader mental health coverage while others limit coverage to serious mental illnesses or biologically based illnesses.