[Timothy's Team] TIMOTHY'S LAW AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN NYS ASSEMBLY AND SENATE

[Maryann White]

Timothy's Law Campaign

Working for health insurance parity for mental health and addiction treatment services.

737 Madison Avenue, Albany, New York 12208   518-432-0333   fax 518-434-6478 www.TimothysLaw.org

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

 

Timothy O'Clair

May 5, 1988 - March 16, 2001

 

 

 

Timothy's Law Campaign Executive Committee

Tom O'Clair

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Alcohol and Substance Abuse Providers of New York State

Coalition for the Homeless

Families Together in New York State

Long Island Recovery Advocates

Mental Health Association in New York State

National Alliance on Mental Illness in New York State

National Association of Social Workers - NYS Chapter

New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services

New York State Coalition for Children's Mental Health Services

New York State Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare

New York State Psychiatric Association

New York State Psychological Association

New York State Rehabilitation Association

Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy

For Release:                                                                                                                               

June 24, 2006                                                                                                             

 

 

TIMOTHY'S LAW AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN NYS ASSEMBLY AND SENATE

 

Continuing their advocacy beyond the point at which the NYS Legislature was to have finished the 2006 Legislative Session on Thursday, Timothy's Law advocates were elated to hear of an agreement between the NYS Assembly and Senate on Friday evening as the Legislature worked to close down for the regular session.  After more than 4 years of constant advocacy in which Timothy's Law supporters from around the state worked to end discrimination in insurance coverage for mental health and addiction needs, a law to end that discrimination is finally in sight.

 

"I find it very fitting and appropriate that on the eve of what would have been his graduation from high school, the NYS Legislature has reached an agreement to pass legislation to end discriminatory health insurance policies that led to the suicide of my son, Timothy, in 2001," said Tom O'Clair, Timothy's father and Co-Chair of the Timothy's Law Campaign.  As Mr. O'Clair has maintained for years, he is simply doing Timothy's work.  "What a graduation present this is for Timothy, and what a great day it is for New Yorkers with mental health needs," O'Clair said.

 

The agreement requires health insurance policies sold in NYS, not exempt under Federal law, to provide at least 30 inpatient days and 20 outpatient visits for mental health treatment.  Perhaps more importantly, co-payments for accessing such services will be equalized with other co-payments for physical health needs included in a policy.  This will bring to an end the exorbitant co-payments, often in excess of $50 per visit, commonly required to access mental health services.  Affected insurance plans will have to cover conditions in a manner comparable to the insurance state employees and state legislators have access to under the Empire Plan.  Small employers of 50 or fewer employees will be held harmless from any potential premium increases. 

 

People working for large employers will receive unlimited mental health benefits for the treatment of bipolar disorder, major depression, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anorexia, bulimia, schizophrenia / psychotic disorders, attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorders, disruptive behavioral disorders and pervasive developmental disorders.  Small employers would have the option to purchase this same coverage.

 

The legislation will expire 3 years from enactment and require the NYS Insurance Department to conduct a cost analysis.

 

Paige Pierce, Co-Chair of the Timothy's Law Campaign, noted, "This movement to enact Timothy's Law has been an incredible grassroots effort with people from throughout the entire State of New York.  Presently, parity laws exist in 35 other states and include 9 million Federal employees and retirees."

 

In noting this accomplishment, members of the Timothy's Law Campaign pointed to the fact that they did not get all that they were hoping for in this agreement, specifically because the agreement failed to include coverage for those with addiction.  O'Clair, Pierce, and other advocates will return in September when the Legislature is expected to fulfill its promise to pass Timothy's Law.

 

The Timothy's Law Campaign would like to thank all Members of the NYS Assembly who have voted for and supported Timothy's Law over the past 4 years, but specifically Assemblymembers Paul Tonko, Alexander (Pete) Grannis, Peter Rivera, Donna Lupardo, Joel Miller, and of course Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Minority Leader James Tedisco for their stalwart support.

 

In addition, the Timothy's Law Campaign thanks all Members of the NYS Senate who supported and pushed for passage of Timothy's Law, especially Senators Thomas Libous, Thomas Duane, Thomas Morahan, and of course Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Minority Leader David Patterson.

 

Lastly, the Timothy's Law Campaign would like to thank the staff from both the Assembly and Senate who often go unrecognized, who have spent countless hours working to enact meaningful reform of NYS law to end discrimination in health insurance for New Yorkers with mental health needs.

 

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