PANEL OKS EXTENDED COVERAGE FOR MENTAL
ILLNESSES
The Senate budget committee approved a measure on Monday
that extends medical coverage for those with mental and
substance abuse illnesses, despite objections that state
legislators shouldn't be increasing costs when their charge
right now is lowering property taxes. Bill sponsors Senators
Barbara Buono, D-Metuchen, and Joseph Vitale, D-Woodbridge,
said the costs to public and private employers would be
minimal and offset by reducing mistreatment, domestic abuse
and lost productivity.
"By providing treatment for mental disorders and substance
disorders based upon medical necessity, rather than an arbitrary
number of days or visits now imposed by managed care companies,
patients will be provided a continuum of care that I believe
will offer the greatest chance for recovery," Buono
said.
The measure passed 12 to 2. Sen. William L. Gormley, R-Margate,
who voted against it, found it ironic that one segment of
the Legislature is voting to increase costs while another
panel he sits on, a property tax committee looking at public
employee benefits, is moving toward cutting benefits. Other
opponents -- business groups, counties and municipalities
and health plan associations -- urged lawmakers not to raise
costs until health-care reform could be considered as a
whole. Organizations supporting the measure, unions, health
groups and advocacy groups, didn't testify after it was
clear the measure would pass.
S807 must now go to the full New Jersey Senate for approval.
Companion bill A2512 still must be voted on in the Assembly
Appropriations Committee and then the full Assembly before
the bill(s) can be sent to the Governor for his approval.
