Politicians are once again beating the drum for "mental health parity". Basically they want insurance companies to be required to provide similar health insurance benefits for mental health care as they provide for physical health care. For example, insurance should cover a psychotherapy office visit with a nominal copayment. It's the kind of feel-good issue that politicians love because it enjoys widespread support and after all, who's going to speak against it? ....I will.

Too much of what passes for mental health care is untested or faddish. For instance, family interventions for drug addiction and alcoholism, while currently popular with the media (there's a TV show called "Intervention"), are totally without statistical evidence of success. In fact, less confrontational treatment modalities are more successful. Insurance mandates that give money to mental health practioners with virtually no strings attached are not going to help the tens of millions of Americans with drug addiction or alcoholism.

Insurance companies need to cover treatments that are proven to work. Coverage needs to be tied to outcomes. We're not ready for blanket mandates in mental health care.