February
28, 2007
The Honorable John D. Dingell, Chairman The Honorable Joe
Barton, Ranking Member Committee on Energy
and Commerce
The Honorable Frank Pallone, Chairman The Honorable Nathan Deal, Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Health
United States House of Representatives
Dear Representatives Dingell, Barton, Pallone, and Deal:
The undersigned organizations urge you to ensure that the
State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) provides equitable coverage
of mental health services that are key components of the full range of services
needed for healthy childhood development. Reauthorization of the program
offers a critical opportunity to rectify discriminatory limits on mental health
care that exist in SCHIP plans across the nation.
Many states have imposed restrictive limits on mental health services that
would not be permissible in Medicaid, including caps on both
inpatient and outpatient care, annual cost restrictions, and limits on
diagnostic services. These limits are not based on the medical needs of
beneficiaries or best practice guidelines and result in coverage that is wholly
inadequate for children with mental disorders. One study found that
children with complex mental health needs would have access to full coverage of
needed services in only approximately 40 percent of states due to limited
benefits in the SCHIP plans. Thus, these children have essentially moved
from being uninsured to underinsured in this Federal-State partnership program.
It is obvious that the fundamental purpose of the SCHIP program is yet to be
achieved.
Children in separate SCHIP plans deserve comprehensive coverage for their
mental health needs. For these children to have access to the appropriate
range of services, the law must be amended to ensure that all SCHIP plans
provide mental health coverage that is equivalent to the coverage provided for
physical conditions.
We commend you for your ongoing leadership on children's mental health
policy. We look forward to working with you to eliminate these
disparities in mental health care under SCHIP so that children enrolled in the
program who need mental health services can appreciate the comprehensive health
insurance benefits Congress intended for our next generation. If you have any questions, please contact
Laurel Stine with the
Sincerely,
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
American Association of People with Disabilities
American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work
American Counseling Association
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
American Group Psychotherapy Association
American Mental Health Counselors Association
American Psychological Association
American Psychiatric Association
American Public Health Association
American Therapeutic Recreation Association
Anxiety Disorders Association of
Association for the Advancement of Psychology
Association of University Centers on Disability
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders
Children’s Defense Fund
Children’s Law Center (DC)
Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles
Clinical Social Work Association
Depression and Bipolar Support
Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy and Action
Foster Family-based Treatment Association
Kidsave
Mental Health
NAMI
National American Council on Adoptable Children
National Association for Children’s Behavioral Health
National Association for Rural Mental Health
National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems
National Association of School Psychologists
National Association of Social Workers
National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
National Health Law Program
National Indian Child Welfare Association
National Network for Youth
National Respite Coalition
Orphan Foundation of
Suicide Prevention Action Network
Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc.
United Jewish Communities
United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association