Mental health services in a single payer system: Lessons from Canada and principles for an American plan.

Abstract

The authors review the advantages of financing mental health care in the U.S. along the lines of the Canadian single-payer system and argue that the pillars of the Canadian system - accessibility, comprehensiveness, portability, public administration, and universality - are standards a restructured U.S. system could achieve. The merits of inlcuding mental health coverage in a basic benefits package are also discussed.