Disability Rights California's paper pointed to the extensive evidence that assertive community treatment (known as ACT) is more effective and less costly than inpatient hospitalization or traditional office-based outpatient therapy.

Photo Credit: "Assertive Community Treatment teams provide person-centered, recovery-oriented outreach mental health services." Fraser Health in British Colombia -- http://www.fraserhealth.ca/health-info/mental-health-substance-use/mental-health-substance-use-community-services/assertive-community-treatment-team/

We gotta have parity in Colorado medicaid & All CO Health Plans

See Also: Illinois has received a $1.3 million federal grant aimed at enforcing laws that require health insurance companies to cover mental health and addiction treatment. http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20161103/NEWS03/161109909

"Disability Rights California (DRC) and other public interest groups filed a 'friend of the court' brief in the Rea case. In this paper, DRC argued that it was good public policy to require insurance plans to cover the most effective treatment for conditions such as autism or schizophrenia, even if there is not precise analog in the medical area.

"For example, DRC’s paper pointed to the extensive evidence that assertive community treatment (known as ACT) is more effective and less costly than inpatient hospitalization or traditional office-based outpatient therapy.

"The state appeals court agreed about the policy consequences, stating that Blue Shield’s denial of coverage 'would exclude one of the most effective treatments for [the plaintiffs’ condition],' and thwart one of the primary purposes of the Parity
Law. "

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