Behavioral health issue brief: mental health and substance abuse parity: year end report-2002.

Parity benefits for mental health continue to be on the agenda of many state legislatures. A broad spectrum of opinions surround what mental health parity could and should be. There are strong proponents that advocate for nothing less than full parity for mental health and substance abuse treatment; equally strong are the groups that oppose parity because they believe it will lead to a health care cost increase and, therefore, an increase in the number of uninsured. Both sides continue to make progress as the victories and the defeats unfold on the floors of state legislatures.