Does any one know if the Mental Health Parity Act has been renewed past 12/31/05? And, would it cover a case of a plan sponsor wanting to exclude prescription drug coverage for depression? Thank you.

Yes, the act was renewed through December 31, 2006.

This law does not require coverage of any mental health benefits. It only requires that, IF a plan does cover mental health, there cannot be any annual or lifetime dollar maximums on the coverage that are different than those applicable to other benefits. So, a plan is not required to cover prescription drugs (or any other benefit for that matter) in relation to mental health.