Contact: Danielle Bickelmann, Timberline Knolls, 214-521-8596

CHICAGO, Oct. 9 /Christian Newswire/ -- The phrase "All men and women are created equal" took a new and significant meaning late last week with Congress' approval of mental health parity legislation that will outlaw health insurance discrimination against Americans with mental health and substance-abuse conditions in employer-sponsored health plans.

It is estimated that roughly 67 percent of adults and 80 percent of children requiring mental health services do not receive help, in large part because of discriminatory insurance practices.

"This long-overdue legislation is a victory not only for mental health advocates, but for all Americans," said James Gresham, president and CEO of Timberline Knolls, one of the country's leading residential treatment facilities for mental disorders, including eating disorders and substance abuse. "This legislation not only gives those in need access to life-saving treatment, it also reduces the very stigma against mental illnesses that has caused millions of Americans not to seek treatment in the first place."

Included in last week's Wall Street bailout bill, the new mental health parity legislation will require insurance plans to provide coverage for mental illnesses, eating disorders and addiction disorders equal to what they provide for physical illnesses.

"Mental illnesses, eating disorders and addiction are real and treatable diseases and should be covered just as equally as conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer," said Kimberly Dennis, M.D., medical director at Timberline Knolls. "This is a milestone in the quest to end discrimination against those living with a mental illness."

According to federal officials, the parity law will improve coverage for 113 million people, including 82 million on employer-sponsored plans that are not subject to state regulation. The effective date, for most health plans, will be Jan. 1, 2010 and includes insurance plans sponsored by businesses with 51 or more employees.

About Timberline Knolls
Located just outside of Chicago on 43 beautiful acres, Timberline Knolls offers a spiritually nurturing environment of recovery for women ages 12 and older who are struggling to overcome eating disorders, substance abuse, and co-occurring disorders. For more information on Timberline Knolls and the services offered, visit www.timberlineknolls.com.