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Article: Mental health looming large in reform battle. (health care reform)
- Article from:
- National Underwriter Property & Casualty-Risk & Benefits Management
- Article date:
- January 24, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1994 The National Underwriter Company. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The issue of how to provide those in need with comprehensive, cost-effective mental health benefits is expected to loom large in the upcoming battle over national health reform, according to sources familiar with mental health coverage.
"One focus of the [health reform] debate will be whether insurers can deliver mental health benefits in a cost-effective way," said Alan Shusterman, president of the American Managed Behavioral Health Care Association, Arlington, Va., a consortium of 15 companies which provide comprehensive mental health benefits.
"Our experience has been that if partial care for mental health and substance abuse is available, utilization ...