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Mental Health & the Law
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Overview |
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The following is a brief description of laws that protect the rights of persons with psychiatric disabilities. It is not legal advice. In addition to the following laws, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) provides funds to states and territories for agencies to provide legal assistance to people with mental illness.
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The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) |
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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects not only the rights of persons with physical disabilities but also persons with psychiatric disabilities. It is a federal law that prohibits discrimination in the following areas:
Employment: includes hiring, termination, working conditions,
benefits, etc.
Public Accommodations: Includes hotels, offices, shopping malls, restaurants, sports arenas, schools, zoos, hospitals, theaters, grocery stores, homeless shelters, libraries, etc.
Public Entities: Includes all local and state governmental services and programs.
Transportation: Includes buses and trains that must be accessible or alternatives must be offered.
Telecommunications: Telecommunication services must be made accessible for speech and/or hearing impaired persons.
The ADA defines disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of the person, such as working, learning, sleeping, thinking and walking. According to the Center for Mental Health Services, "Psychiatric disabilities are the second most frequently cited disability in administrative charges filed under the employment provisions of the ADA." Under the ADA, private employers with 15 or more employees, state and local governments, employment agencies, labor organizations and management committees are all subject to the ADA.
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Individuals With Disabilities Education Act |
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The Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law mandating that all children receive free, appropriate public education - regardless of the level or severity of their disability. 1997 amendments were aimed at making education meaningful and for improving results for all children in the educational system. Each child that qualifies must have an
Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Other issues addressed include parental involvement, assessment and discipline.
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Parity: The Law To End Insurance Discrimination |
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Parity means equality. The concept of parity is important in the mental health context because many health plans offered by employers typically provide less coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatment than for general medical and surgical services. In 1996, the Mental Health Parity Act (MHPA) was passed. This federal law requires that health plans provide the same annual and lifetime spending limits for mental health benefits as they do for other healthcare benefits. However, the MHPA does not affect visit limits, or cost sharing, such as co-payments and deductibles. It also does not include substance abuse within its scope, and has a one-percent premium cost cap and a 50-employee exemption.
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Psychiatric Advance Directives |
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Advance Directives are legal documents that tell others what your treatment preferences are and/or who you would want to make decisions for you when you are incapable of making decisions for yourself. They are directions for others to follow, made in advance of an illness or injury, and state law governs their use. They exist in both the physical health and mental health contexts with the majority of state statutes expressly or by implication applying to mental health. However, some states have passed specific psychiatric advance directive laws due to the unique considerations that persons with mental disabilities may have. Reasons for having a psychiatric advance directive include (1) to promote recovery for people diagnosed with mental illnesses; (2) to prevent unwanted treatment; (3) to improve communication between the consumer and physician; (4) to potentially shorten a consumer's stay in the hospital. To learn more about advance directives, contact the National Mental Health Association at 1-800-969-NMHA.
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