Law adds 4 disorders
to list of insured
mental illnesses

CORRECTION Friday, June 24, 2005 » Jennifer Diesman is director of government relations for the Hawaii Medical Service Association. A Page A6 article Wednesday incorrectly listed her title as government relations manager. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.

Four additional types of mental illness are being added to the list of disorders that health insurers are required to provide coverage for in benefit plans to members.

Under the expanded definition of "serious mental illness," signed into law yesterday by Gov. Linda Lingle, insurance plans must offer coverage for delusional disorder, major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and dissociative disorder.

Since taking office, Lingle has been a staunch supporter of legislation to expand health insurance benefits to cover treatment for mental illness. She has testified several times before legislative committees, emotionally telling lawmakers of her mother's battle with bipolar disorder and its effects on her and her family.

The bill signed into law yesterday was part of Lingle's legislative package, but also had strong support among majority Democrats.

"We've been pushing for this for a long time," said House Health Chairman Dennis Arakaki (D, Alewa Heights-Kalihi).

A state law requiring insurers to treat serious mental illnesses the same as physical illnesses was passed in 1999 and made permanent in 2003, the same year advocates were successful in getting schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder, and bipolar disorder types 1 and 2 added to the definition of serious mental illness.

The expanded definition "will act to improve the health of the people of Hawaii, while helping to reduce the overall costs of care over the long term," said a Senate committee report on the proposal, Senate Bill 761.

Arakaki said he's hopeful the new law will encourage those with mental illness to seek help sooner.

"Unfortunately, in many cases of mental illness, the problems may manifest in hurting themselves or hurting others," he said. "I think this encourages people to get help sooner, to get appropriate help and, if need be, the appropriate medication as well."

In previous years, health insurance companies had testified against the measure, saying current plans provided adequate coverage, but they did not oppose the bill as it moved through the Legislature this year.

The state's largest health insurer, Hawaii Medical Service Association, last year voluntarily expanded plans to cover more mental health disorders.

"I think what we wanted to ensure was that members with serious mental illness had appropriate access to coverage," said Jennifer Diesman, HMSA's government relations manager. "We think that's appropriate for our members with those conditions."