Suicide Prevention Activist Supports Wyoming Insurance Parity

The head of a Cheyenne-based suicide prevention group is calling on Wyoming lawmakers to pass a bill that would force insurance companies to charge the same deductibles for treating mental health and substance abuse as they charge for other health treatments.

Rhianna Brand, Executive Director of Grace For Two Brothers Foundation says House Bill 211 would be a major step forward in dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues for people struggling to cope with those problems.

The bill was recently approved by a legislative committee and is now headed for the full Wyoming House of Representatives

She says currently people seeking treatment for those challenges often face exorbitant insurance deductibles or may have to wait years for help through federal programs. Brand sat down with KGAB radio's Glenn Woods on Wednesday to discuss House Bill 211 and why she thinks it should be approved by lawmakers.