Last call for Timothy's Law?

The New York State Catholic Conference is urging one last action on your part in the continuing efforts to enact Timothy's Law, which we have discussed previously.

The Assembly and Senate have now passed Timothy's Law and sent it to the Governor for his signature. This important legislation would establish that insurance coverage for many mental health services must be on par with physical health benefits. This bill is a compromise that was reached between the Senate and Assembly after years of debate and discussion. Health insurance plans and health maintenance organizations frequently limit access to mental health services by restricting the number of visits and/or requiring higher co-payments than required for access to general health services. The case of Timothy O'Clair, a Schenectady boy who committed suicide in his home after not getting adequate mental health treatment due to lack of coverage, clearly illustrates the ultimate cost that barriers to treatment can exact. Please contact the Governor today and encourage him to sign this legislation.

To take action, go here and click on TAKE ACTION on the bottom right of the page.