Congress passes mental health parity bills, final enactment may be near

from Mercer Select: 

The House and Senate each passed mental health parity legislation, bringing months of negotiation to a near close. While the legislation would expand current parity rules, employers could define the mental health and substance abuse conditions covered by their plans and use medical management techniques. States could establish stricter rules for insured health plans. Although House and Senate provisions are identical, because they are contained in different bills, it's not clear yet how the two will be reconciled. The law would be effective for plan years beginning a year after enactment.  (Select News, 24 Sep 2008)

• Full text of HR 6049 (PDF)
• Full text of HR 6983 (PDF)

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/

Wall Street Journal: Mental Health Parity Bill Passed by Congress

from tonehall:

In a bleak news day, it was good to see that Congress finally gets it - mental health should be treated with the same seriousness as other health-related matters.

Though the bills that were passed exempt companies with less than 50 employees, it's a start in the right direction toward healthcare equity for those with mental health issues.

Here's an excerpt from Jacob Goldstein's piece:

A long fight over putting the coverage of mental health on par with other health conditions is nearly over.

Both houses of Congress yesterday passed bills that would prohibit employers who offer mental health coverage from doing things like charging higher co-pays for mental health services than for other kinds of health care. That’s long been a common practice.

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/

Update: House passes Rep. Kennedy's mental-health bill

from Progo 7 to 7 News Blog 

WASHINGTON -- The House of Representatives passed Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy's mental-health parity legislation on a 376-to-47 vote tonight.

The Rhode Island Democrat's bill now awaits Senate action that may not be easy to secure this week because of the crush of urgent business, including the bail-out of the nation's financial system.

Read more about his proposal, and its path through Congress.

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/

Bipolar in Louisville

I got a call this a.m. from a Congressional office (Yarmuth's) after a query about WHEN the Mental Health Parity Bill would come before the House and Senate. The word I got was that this would be tomorrow-- Tuesday, September 23, 2008. The nice lady to whom I talked said that the proceedings would 'probably' be broadcast on C-SPAN. [Those like me who lack cable with this specialized channel can Google C-SPAN on Internet and watch online.]  More... 

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/

Senate Finance Committee members push for compromise on mental health parity legislation

from News-Medical.net


The Senate Finance Committee has begun discussing potential funding offsets for a compromise on mental health parity legislation passed by the House and Senate earlier in the 110th Congress, CongressDaily reports.

Lawmakers reached an agreement in July that would combine the House and Senate bills by removing a House mandate on coverage of specific mental health conditions in favor of one that would require that mental health benefits be equal to physical health benefits, although no funding mechanism was included in the agreement.

Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.), when asked about the bill's chances of passing this month, said, "The funnel is so small, there's so little time and there's so much we have to pass here," adding, "I'll hope." Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), who is expected to meet with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to discuss the compromise, said the bill must receive final approval this month before attentions shift to the November elections. Kennedy said it is a "good bipartisan, bicameral compromise bill" and has secured "a sign-off from both business and consumer groups," adding, "[I]t's just hard to think that you're going to be able to get that kind of sign-off and political compromise back again without a lot of footwork." Kennedy also said there is a chance that business groups would withdraw their support for the parity legislation if it has to start from scratch next year.


Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/

“Shuffling Toward Mental Health Parity”

There are two positions in the Congress on equal coverage for mental health problems. This free editorial explains the issue, where the legislation is now and, below, the editors’ conclusions.
New England Journal of Medicine
“For half a century, advocates and reformers have sought to ensure that mental illnesses are addressed in the same way as all other illnesses. Considerable progress has been made, and today treatment of mental disorders is increasingly part of the medical mainstream. But some glaring exceptions remain. One of the most visible and troubling manifestations of continuing unequal treatment of mental health conditions can be found in the structure of health insurance contracts. For a mental illness, most private health insurance contracts impose special limits on the amount of treatment they will pay for. The federal Medicare program and many private insurers impose much higher cost sharing for mental health treatment than for physical health treatment. Continued calls for parity — equal insurance coverage of mental and other medical conditions — seek to redress this inequity.”
…. “The evidence from the existing parity plans suggests a possible compromise between the House and Senate positions.

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/

Update: Senate And House Reach Historic Agreement On Mental Health Parity

Image via Wikipedia

From the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Action Alert I received last night:

We are delighted to announce that the Senate and the House negotiators have reached a historic agreement on the Mental Health Parity compromise bill. Since early March, when the Senate passed its own version of the bill, S. 558, the House and Senate have been engaged in intense negotiations to reconcile differences between the two bills. (The House bill, H.R. 1424 - passed in early March).

Now the bill must go for one more, final vote in both chambers and then goes to the President for his signature.

You are all amazing! For many years, you have hung in there for the long haul - the mark of a true advocate. Now we need to rally once more so that the bill is passed quickly in the House and Senate.

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/

Loose Screws Mental Health News

John Grohol at PsychCentral reports that the fate of the mental health parity bill is uncertain as its main champion, Sen. Ted Kennedy, takes a leave of absence to focus on treatment of his brain tumor. I echo John’s thoughts in hoping to see that other senators are willing to carry the torch and pass this important piece of legislation.

I came across a post from Kalea Chapman at pasadena therapist in which she linked to a WSJ article on whether veterans suffering from PTSD should be awarded the Purple Heart.

Supporters of awarding the Purple Heart to veterans with PTSD believe the move would reduce the stigma that surrounds the disorder and spur more soldiers and Marines to seek help without fear of limiting their careers.
…
Opponents argue that the Purple Heart should be reserved for physical injuries, as has been the case since the medal was reinstituted by Congress in 1932.

I side with the opponents. The Purple Heart should be awarded to be people who have visible evidence of bravery. With the rising number of PTSD prevalence, I’m afraid that the award would be handed out like candy. The rising number of veterans with PTSD on disability has caused enough of an issue that a Texas VA facility wanted mental health officials to stop diagnosing veterans with the condition.

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/
Change: http://prosynergypsc.blogspot.com/

Mental Health Parity Update: House Passes Paul Wellstone Mental Health And Addiction Equality Act

It’s a happy day night morning (oh, man, I really need to work on a getting a regular sleep schedule going on) time for mental health patients, advocates, and family members and friends! Oh, who am I kidding - it’s a happy time for all Americans!

The House just passed the Paul Wellstone Mental Health And Addiction Equality Act (H.R. 1424)! (That link will take you to an explanation of H.R. 1424.)

You can view the official Yeas and Nays online. (Why does it seem like Republicans aren’t so keen on having mental health and substance abuse parity?)

To my understanding, now that both the Senate and the House have passed their respective versions of the bill, it’s now time to work out some differences and come up with a version they can pass on to the President.

So, we’re not quite there yet, but we’re definitely getting closer! Count on me and Mental Health Notes to keep you posted as updates are made available.

A Historic Vote for Mental Health Insurance

After more than a decade of delay, Congress appears ready to pass a bill to boost insurance coverage for the treatment of mental illnesses. The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007 is designed to improve upon the Mental Health Parity Act passed in 1996 by the former senator after which it is named. While, the bill from '96 barred insurers from setting lower dollar limits on mental health treatment than on other kinds of treatment, it left open the possibility of insurers putting other kinds of restrictions on mental health treatment coverage.

The current bill, which will be voted on by the House on Wednesday, doesn't require insurers to provide coverage for mental health treatments, but it mandates that any mental health coverage provided by an insurer cannot be more restrictive, in any way, than the treatment it provides for medical and surgical benefits.

Action Alert for Mental Health Parity Bill

Urge March 5 House Vote for Parity


February 28, 2008--We have been pushing hard since 2001 to enact full mental
health parity. Now, thanks to your outreach to legislators and the advocacy of
many others across the nation (including ATRA), victory is at last within reach. Following the Senate's historic passage of the Mental Health Parity Act (S. 558) by unanimous consent in September, the House is poised to take up its bill, H.R. 1424, on Wednesday, March 5.

Parity supporters across America should contact their Representative NOW
to urge his or her vote for H.R. 1424. Senate and House leaders should continue
to work together to reconcile differences between the versions and produce a bill
that can pass in both chambers.

Please Act Now!
Use the toll-free Parity Hotline, 1-866-parity4 (1-866-727-4894), to call your
U.S. Representative. (The Parity Hotline reaches the Capitol switchboard,
which can connect callers to their members of Congress). If you are not sure
of your Representative's name, you can find it by entering your zip code at
www.congress.org.

Message: "I am calling to ask that the Representative vote for H.R. 1424,
the Paul Wellstone Mental Health & Addiction Equity Act. Parity is a fair and
affordable solution to insurance discrimination. It will save lives and families."

Background
The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007 expands the
Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 by prohibiting group health plans from
imposing treatment or financial limitations on mental health benefits that are
different from those applied to medical/surgical services. The legislation
applies only to group health plans already providing mental health benefits
and exempts plans sponsored by small businesses with fewer than 50 employees.

Gathered in the Capitol

Here’s a shot from the third floor of some of the crowd gathered in Madison Wisconsin for Mental Health Parity Action Day.

From Wisconsin: