Posted on: Friday, February 7, 2003

Lingle backs mental-health bill

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Health Writer

Gov. Linda Lingle's voice trembled with emotion yesterday as she told lawmakers how her mother's mental illness gave her a personal understanding of why people with mental illness should be able to get insurance coverage for treatment.

Lingle's administration is supporting a bill that would expand the definition of serious mental illness in a section of the state law that requires private employer-sponsored health plans to cover ongoing treatment.

"My mom suffered from a very serious mental illness since I was about 8 years old," Lingle said.

She said her mother developed what was then called manic depressive behavior but is now referred to as bipolar disorder.

Lingle testified in support of the measure before the Senate Health Committee, which gave the bill initial approval.

"This bill reaffirms Hawai'i's commitment to equal treatment for all of our citizens," she said. "It eliminates distinctions that set the seriously mentally ill apart and places them on an equal footing with persons who suffer from physical illnesses."

Mental-health advocates supported the bill, but companies that provide medical coverage opposed the proposal in written testimony.

Mike Pablin told the committee that he has been under treatment for chronic and severe depression for 20 years and can control the illness with treatment and medication.

Pablin said he works as a consumer advocate for a local managed care behavioral healthcare agency, and "I am as productive as any employee. He credits the treatment he continues to receive through his medical plan.

"Without these benefits, I would not work."

Phyllis Baumwell Dendle of Kaiser Permanente said a change in the law isn't necessary and would eventually drive up the cost of insurance premiums.

"Any additional mandated benefits, no matter how small they may seem, cost more money, which will increase healthcare premiums," Dendle said.

She suggested the Legislature first provide such coverage to state employees, then use the data gathered to determine the cost and value of such benefits.

In 1999, the Legislature passed a law that removed treatment limits on benefits for serious mental illnesses where there are no similar limits for medical and surgical treatment. But that law is scheduled to expire June 30 if it is not extended.

In addition, the new law would expand the treatment requirement for delusional disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and dissociative disorder.

Lingle said she does not believe the measure will drive up costs for all consumers.

Hawai'i Medical Service Association's Jennifer Diesman said major depression should be excluded from such a measure. And she said HMSA, Hawai'i's largest medical insurance company with nearly 670,000 covered members, opposes government mandates that "increase healthcare costs for employers and consumers."

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.