In a letter to the editor of the New York Times (12/21, A18, Subscription Publication), psychiatrist Jeffrey A. Lieberman, MD, president of the American Psychiatric Association, wrote in response to an article titled “Fewer Psychiatrists Seen Taking Health Insurance” that “patients with access must deal with discriminatory and often illegal barriers to mental health and addiction services by” health insurers, while psychiatrists themselves are putting up with “discriminatory actions of insurers” when it comes to reimbursement practices. Dr. Lieberman concluded, “The American Psychiatric Association is hopeful that the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act will bring equality in treatment coverage, but we will continue monitoring for enforcement.”
Related Links:
— “An Insurance Trap for Psychiatrists and Patients, The New York Times, December 20, 2013.