It was easy to overlook in the midst of a historic financial crisis, but buried in the middle of the bailout bill was a mental health parity law. It contains so many loopholes and exceptions, it may not have any more impact than the previous mental health parity bill - enacted in 1996.

Ostensibly, employers of more than 50 people must apply the same copayments, deductibles, etc., to mental health services as they have for medical services. But the employer doesn't have to cover mental health at all. And if there is coverage, employers can pick and choose which disorders they will cover. [link]

So why does this interest us? Because it is an example of very bad law. It does the opposite of what good public policy should be all about.

Cotinue Reading at the John Goodman Health Blog.