April 21, 2006 - March and Rally for Timothy's Law in Binghamton, NY

Timothy's Law Rally
News Channel 34, Binghamton, NY April 21, 2006

If you were in downtown Binghamton, you might have noticed a large group of people walking down Court Street with picket signs towards the State Office Building for a rally there.

NewsChannel 34's Peter Quinn has more on their push to pass a law requiring health insurance companies to treat people who are mentally ill as long as they need it.

The group knows what it wants. Right now, under many health insurance programs, people who are mentally ill can't get the treatment they need. The Assembly's version of the bill, known as Timothy's Law, was approved last month and it would change that.

Lupardo says, "It basically ends the discrimination that people who are seeking mental health services face, because there is limited coverage for people who have mental illness. What we are trying to do is have mental health insurance parody, it's equality. It treats mental illness on a par with physical illness."

Timothy's Law is named after 12 year-old Timothy O'Clair of Schenectady who committed suicide five years ago after he didn't get the mental care he needed. His father spoke today.

O'Clair says, "We had fought for four and a half years to get him the level and the amount of mental health care and treatment that he needed to deal with his mental health issues. But, due to limits imposed by the insurance industry we weren't able to bring it to him."

The rally's purpose was to put pressure on the Senate to also pass Timothy's Law.

Now, the State Senate does have its own version of the bill. Actually, it's sponsored by State Senator Tom Libous who used to chair the Mental Health Committee. Under the Senate's version, it would require health insurers to treat people who are mentally ill or who have other biological disorders.. However, it does not span out as far as the Assembly's version.

Libous says, "The Assembly bill is much too broad. It goes way too far. And, it's not a bill that's business-friendly either. It would really put a lot of small businesses in jeopardy. But, having said that, I think the Senate bill, if the Assembly would be willing to compromise and talk with the Senate, which they are not willing to do, we could have a very good mental health parody bill on the books."

Libous says insurance costs would increase under the Assembly's version because it's so broad and includes treating pedophiles, people who have disorders from drinking too much caffeine, and those who used cocaine for a long time. People at the rally say it's time for Timothy's Law to become law before another tragedy happens.

Another note about the Senate's version, Libous says it's comparable to what other states have.