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Saturday, February 8, 2025

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January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

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During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

Experts: DE insurers improperly deny claims for mental health treatment

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Monday, February 3, 2025   

Statistics show millions of Americans deal with mental health issues but a recent study found insurance companies often deny coverage for emotional illnesses based on questionable criteria.

More than 150,000 people in Delaware have a diagnosed mental health condition, but fewer than half are approved for specialty care by their insurance carrier.

David Lloyd, chief policy officer for the mental health advocacy organization Inseparable, said insurers are required to provide mental and physical health services equally but many are blocking access to necessary treatments.

"They often use non-transparent, black box criteria that have been developed with the insurer's financial interest in mind and not the best interest of patients," Lloyd explained.

Lloyd acknowledged Delaware has made meaningful progress in expanding coverage of mental health issues, including expanding Medicaid, bolstering clinical guidelines and covering telemedicine mental health services. Still, he pointed out most people with mental health diagnoses are undertreated.

Lloyd noted lawmakers in Delaware and other states have a spotty record of supporting mental health care, sometimes because they do not understand the problem. He contended they also fail to act under pressure from insurance lobbyists and other stakeholders.

"What mental health advocates across the country are pushing for is to make sure that when a doctor is recommending treatment, that the health plan has to cover those services when they're consistent with the standards of care," Lloyd emphasized.

Delaware has state statutes based on the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act but Lloyd said enforcement is spotty and significant fines and penalties are rare.

"We need lawmakers to actually act and to pass strong laws and have state regulators enforce the law," Lloyd urged. "So that when we have laws on the books that promise mental health and addiction coverage, that actually is the reality."

Disclosure: Inseparable contributes to our fund for reporting on Criminal Justice, Health Issues, Mental Health, Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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