Disability Law

HealthPass and NAMI-NYC Offer Information on Mental Health Resources

By Danielle

Via Marketwire:

HealthPass, a New York City-based non-profit group, announced today a strategic relationship with the National Alliance on Mental Illness - NYC Metro (NAMI-NYC) that will give thousands of small businesses access to information on quality mental health resources, programs and benefits for their employees.

As part of this strategic partnership, HealthPass, which offers cost-effective health insurance solutions to small employers, will incorporate into their benefit enrollment kits, a small employer guide on mental health resources published by NAMI-NYC, which provides support, education, and advocacy for families and individuals who live with mental illness.

The 8-page employer guide includes a wide range of information and resources on mental health. Employers will find national data on how mental illness affects the workplace, information on how to calculate workplace costs and several links to mental health cost calculators. Additionally, the guide provides comprehensive information about Timothy’s Law — New York State’s Mental Health Parity Law. Also included in the guide are tips for employers on how to educate and keep workers informed about their mental health benefits as well as free resources that are available to employees. Furthermore, HealthPass will provide employers with the opportunity to order employee mental health resource guides developed by NAMI-BYC Metro to distribute to their employees.

“We are very excited about our partnership with NAMI-NYC Metro,” said Vince Ashton, Executive Director of HealthPass. “Untreated and under-treated mental health illness in the workplace is costing employers millions of dollars in lost work days and over-utilization of medical benefits. This guide will enable employers to provide the appropriate resources and support to help workers dealing with mental health illnesses.”

“Communication between employers and employees about mental health benefits is vital,” says Wendy Brennan, Executive Director of NAMI-NYC Metro. “We are looking forward to working with HealthPass and providing their employers with the resources that workers can use to find appropriate care for their illness as well as reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.”

To learn more, check out HealthPass and the National Alliance on Mental Illness of New York City Metro, Inc. (NAMI-NYC Metro).

Full post as published by Mental Disability Law Blog on January 23, 2008 (boomark / email).