Georgia mental health overhaul signed into law

ATLANTA, Georgia (WDEF) – On the last day of this year’s session at the Georgia legislature, lawmakers gathered at the capital to watch the governor sign a major mental health overhaul into law.

The package was pushed by Speaker David Ralston, but advocates for addiction and mental health services have been working on it for years.

Here are a few of the things the new law promises:

— expand mental health coverage

— requires health insurance to cover mental health conditions

— enforce “parity” in health coverage

— forgive student loans for mental health providers working in underserved communities

— new national protocols for treatment of both addiction and mental health cases

— requires insurance companies to report on how they are complying with the law

At the signing, Governor Kemp said “Today we take the next step, a monumental step toward a Georgia where every person receives the help they need to fight and overcome whatever personal problem they may face.

Unlike most bill, this one was approved by both parties in a unanimous vote last week.

It goes into affect on July 1st.

Today’s signing was a victory party for many mental health organizations in the state.