Colorado legislation addressing senior mental health becomes law

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter signed seven measuresWednesday aimed at increasing services for the elderly and improvingmental health care, including one that will expand the conditions thathealth insurers must cover.  The new law adds such conditions as post-traumatic stressdisorder, drug and alcohol disorders and anorexia to the list ofcovered problems. Biologically based mental illnesses includingschizophrenia and major depressive disorder were already covered underthe previous law.  Ritter signed four other bills later in the day expanding services mainly for the elderly.   Theyencourage the use of tracking devices to locate handicapped people whobecome lost, rebate more tax money to seniors and disabled people,increase funding for such senior services as Meals on Wheels, legalassistance and shopping shuttles, and promote long-term services forthe elderly in communities.

Source:  Denver Post, http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_6020003