An article in the Boston Globe confirms that limits on mental health claims are beginning to be felt in Mass. The Group Insurance Commission has led the way, but a psychologist who spent hours arguing with United Behavioral Health over claims he felt justified for three different patients, including a suicidal college student, says he will no longer accept United Behavioral Health because of its policies.

Matt Selig, executive director of a public interest firm, Health Law Advocates, told the Boston Globe, "We are seeing what seem to be excessive preauthorization and other reviews that we don't typically see for other medical services.''

Heavy lobbying by insurance companies was reported earlier by the New York Times Reporter Robert Pear writes:

"insurers are lobbying for a broad definition of quality improvement activities that would allow them to count spending on health information technology, nurse hot lines and efforts to prevent fraud. They also want to include the cost of reviewing care by doctors and hospitals, to determine if it was appropriate and followed clinical protocols."

This might be a preview of what's in store for challenges to parity for mental health and substance used disorders.