Insurance parity is surely one of the key battles to be fought — I say "to be" because the effort has been feeble thus far — by recovery advocates.

The insurance lobby won one recently, and lost one.

Let's start with the good news. A bill that was signed by Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski last week requires insurers to cover addiction and mental illness on par with other diseases effective Jan. 1, 2007.

Meanwhile, New York Gov. George Pataki, who has presidential ambitions, vetoed legislation that would have required New York insurers to pay for treating people who were injured automobile crashes while driving under the influence of alcohol. It is a poorly kept secret that many doctors in New York emergency rooms will not test patients for alcohol use for fear that the costs will not be reimbursed. Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other groups argue that the law prevents effective drug testing, screening, and referral.

If you are interested in parity for mental illness and substance abuse in New York State, I recommend that you visit the Timothy's Law website.