Expanded mental health coverage in 2010

UC has made improvements to the medical plans in 2010 in order to comply with the Federal Mental Health Parity Act which mandates that if a plan offers mental health benefits then these benefits should be at least equal to other medical benefits offered.

These improvements include adding out-of-network behavioral health benefits to the CIGNA Choice Fund and the Anthem Blue Cross Plus plan and removing the visit limit for Anthem Blue Cross PPO out-of-network treatments. There are also no more penalties for non-compliance with a substance abuse treatment plan and there are no more day limits inpatient treatment for mental health and substance abuse.

Please see the following link for an overview of these changes by plan.

http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu//files/MH_Parity_information_by_plan.pdf

United Behavioral Health (UBH) offers behavioral health benefits for UC employees with the Anthem Blue Cross Plus, Anthem Blue Cross PPO, Health Net, Western Health Advantage and Kaiser plans. Kaiser members may also use behavioral health services from Kaiser.

Employees should call UBH advance to obtain authorization for treatment. There is no co-payment for the first 3 outpatient visits.

Please see the following link for more information.
http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/open_enrollment/employees/e_ubh.html