By analyzing data for privately insured children with mental disorders in states with mental health parity laws this study aims to determine the effects of parity legislation on access to outpatient mental health services.  The study finds that children living in states with parity laws are no more likely to receive outpatient mental healthcare than children in non-parity states.  The article goes on to discuss the policy implications of these findings.  

Barry, C. L., & Busch, S. H. (2008). Caring for children with mental disorders: do state parity laws increase access to treatment? Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics, 11(2): 57-66. http://lib.bioinfo.pl/pmid:18509213

Authors: Colleen L Barry, Susan H Busch