This 1998 report examined the state of mental health and substance abuse parity under the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 and state parity laws.  The study summarized characteristics of state parity laws, conducted detailed case studies of five state parity laws, analyzed actuarial estimates of the costs of parity, and provided estimates of premium increases under full and partial parity. 

The full report is available from SAMHSA here: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/Mc99-80/Prtyfnix.asp 

This report examines the projected impact of mental health parity legislation in Massachusetts; primarily with respect to projected costs in various scenarios.

Download the full report (pdf): http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dhcfp/r/pubs/mandates/mental_health_parity_report.pdf

This study, produced by SAMHSA and Mathematica, examines the effects of the vermont mental health and substance abuse parity law, which went into effect on January 1, 1998. The report looks at "six domains: (1) implementation process; (2) employer issues; (3) insurer/health plan issues; (4) provider issues; (5) consumer issues; and (6) effects on health care access, utilization, and spending."

The full report is available from SAMHSA at: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/sma03-3822/default.asp

From Bazelon:

This report presents a summary of federal Medicaid policy as of November 2008 with respect to community mental health services covered under the Clinic, Rehabilitation and Home and Community Based Services (Section 1915(i)) categories of the law. It also presents the results of a review of official state Medicaid policies with respect to these service categories. The report focuses on community-based services and does not discuss institutional services, such as services of hospitals, residential treatment centers for children, group homes or other congregate-care settings.

Full Report:  Following the Rules: A Report on Federal Rules and State Actions to Cover Community Mental Health Services under Medicaid (pdf)

From the Council of State Governments:

Medicaid is the largest health insurance program in the country, covering as many as 62 million low-income Americans over the course of a year, including one of every four children in the country. Medicaid has grown from about 10 percent of total state spending in 1987 to nearly 22 percent of total state spending in 2008, making it the top spending category for states. Medicaid, like all health care in America, is expensive— it comes with an annual price tag of more than $300 billion in combined federal and state dollars. The program is important to not only the millions of low-income Americans who receive benefits but also to the economy of each state where Medicaid funds support thousands of health-related jobs, medical education and work force development. It is incredibly complicated and different in each state, with no two Medicaid programs alike. Policies vary from state to state and the population Medicaid serves is incredibly diverse. The Medicaid program is loved by few, criticized by many and misunderstood by most. This primer will help you understand the basics and dispel some myths often associated with Medicaid. As a legislator, you come into contact with people who run the program in your state, service providers, those who are beneficiaries and those who are trying to become beneficiaries. This primer is designed to provide the information you need to help your constituents.

Full report: Medicaid 101: A Primer for State Legislators

Governors at the National Governors’ Association meeting have called for an increase in Medicaid funds through an increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) i.e, the “federal match.” The FMAP helps determine the funds distributed to the state for Medicaid services. Previous House and Senate bills related to an increase are currently stuck in committee, but the Governors believe that president-elect Obama will likely include some form of increase for Medicaid in future stimulus legislation.

More information on the requests by the governors is available on http://www.nga.org