Mental Health Parity
Overwhelming Response to Mental Health Parity Forums Speaks to Demand for Bill
February 14, 2007
WASHINGTON - Congressmen Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN) are increasing the number of mental health parity forums they are conducting across the country due to an overwhelming response from consumers, lawmakers and health care advocates. Last month, the Congressmen kicked off the “Campaign to Insure Mental Health and Addiction Equity” to discuss the need for a federal mental health parity bill that grants access to addiction and mental health treatment. To date, forums have been held in Rhode Island, Minnesota, Maryland and California with additional forums scheduled into March.
“I have been moved and overwhelmed by the turnout everywhere we go as we discuss mental health parity with different communities across our country,” said Congressman Patrick Kennedy. “It’s one thing to know you have support from all directions, but to hear it and feel it from members of the public has been incredibly powerful. Mental illness and addiction in some way touches every American family. We know that to be true and the public is demanding some answers when it comes to access to treatment. This bill is a critical, first step.”
The Congressmen are preparing to reintroduce federal legislation in March aimed at ensuring that health plans offer fair coverage for mental health care. The bill, called the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act after the late Senator who championed the cause, is gaining momentum and is expected to receive the full support of House Leaders.
“We are closing in on our goal to pass the most responsible and comprehensive federal parity bill possible,” said Congressman Jim Ramstad. “Our conversations with fellow Americans across the country have been extremely beneficial in crafting a bill that offers solutions in addressing one of the most pressing public health issues of our time. Congress must hear their call and pass the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act.”
The bill expands the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 by requiring group health plans that offer benefits for mental health and addiction to do so on the same terms as care for other diseases. The legislation closes the loopholes that allow plans to charge higher copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, and maximum out-of-pocket limits and impose lower day and visit limits on mental health addiction care.
Additional forums are being organized across the country by Mental Health America (formerly the National Mental Health Association) and the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI). The next forum will be held in Vancouver, Washington, February 17, 2007 at Washington State University - Vancouver, Student Services Building, Room 110. The event is slated to begin at 1p.m., following a brief meeting with members of the media.
“The issue of mental health equity is something I’ve been working on since coming to Congress,” said Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA). “As a clinical psychologist, it is clear to me that the need for mental health equity is unquestionable. Everyone has a family member, friend or co-worker who has been affected by mental illness. We know that treatment is effective and it can improve people’s lives. And, we know that it’s cost effective from an economic standpoint. I am honored to be part of this discussion and look forward to hearing how we can change the way people receive mental health care treatment in this country.”
Background on Legislation:
According to the Government Accountability Office, nearly 90 percent of plans impose such financial limitations and treatment restrictions on mental health and addiction care despite voluminous scientific research documenting the biological, genetic, and chemical nature of these diseases, and the effectiveness of treatment. The bill applies to group health plans of 50 or more people.
The legislation is modeled after the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program, which covers Members of Congress and other federal workers and dependents and which implemented parity in 2001. According to an exhaustive study published earlier this year by the Department of Health and Human Services, the federal employees’ parity policy was implemented with “little or no increase in total MH/SA [mental health/substance abuse] spending”.
A majority of respondents to a National Mental Health Association survey indicated that they would support parity legislation even if it meant a $1 per month increase to their premiums. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that such legislation will increase health care costs by far less than that amount.