Improvements for employer-provided health insurance

The Obama administration proposed new rules recently that should improve insurance coverage of mental health care for more those fortunate to have medical insurance through their jobs. The rules implement the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). Under the rules, employers and group health plans generally cannot provide less coverage for mental health care than for the treatment of physical conditions.

Of course, what millions of uninsured workers need right now is the healthcare reform bill that is stalled in Congress, so that everyone can get health insurance. Even the bill the Senate passed would be a big step in the right direction, if only the House would just pass it.