ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York regulators say they'll be watching to see that insurers don't discriminate against people needing treatment for mental health disorders and addiction.
The Department of Financial Services, in a letter this week, reminds health insurers they're responsible for providing the same level of coverage for those treatments as for medical and surgical care.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo says his administration will have "zero tolerance for insurance companies that seek to shirk their obligations."
New York's mental health parity law was signed in 2007 by Gov. George Pataki.
Last month, Cuomo signed legislation requiring insurers cover initial inpatient drug treatment without their prior approvals.
The department letter notes federal guidance and laws for coverage parity and says it will be reviewing insurers' treatment limitations for compliance.
