The Bazelon Mental Health Policy Reporter
Issue 1 : Volume I : September 12, 2002

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September 12, 2002 -- The President made headlines in April when he endorsed the idea that, when it comes to coverage, private insurers should treat mental health services no differently than medical or surgical care. The announcement - and a June rally at the U.S. Capitol that drew more than two thousand parity supporters - buoyed hopes among mental health advocates that there might be sufficient momentum on the issue to force lawmakers to act on parity legislation this session.

But efforts to move the legislation through Congress have, so far, been slow. A June hearing renewed interest in parity legislation, but the Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act's future in the House is far from certain. The bill (H.R. 4066), is co-sponsored by Representatives Marge Roukema (R-NJ) and Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and is supported by more than 230 national organizations. So far, opposition by committee members and House leaders has stalled the bill, despite the bipartisan support of 240 U.S. representatives.

Opponents claim that a federal mandate on mental health parity would send healthcare premiums skyrocketing, despite Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates to the contrary. The CBO estimate put the increase at less than one percent.

The most contentious issue is whether to provide full parity for all mental health disorders or to provide parity to only severe "biologically-based" disorders. As governor of Texas, President Bush signed a more limited parity law that covered only "severe mental illnesses." Limiting the scope of parity legislation would arbitrarily discriminate against people with some forms of mental illness, according to mental health advocates.

Prospects are brighter in the Senate, where parity legislation has already been approved in committee. With Congress facing an increasingly crowded legislative agenda and few days to complete its work, Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM), may attach the legislation (S. 543) to a must-pass appropriations bill to increase its prospects for enactment this year. Domenici and Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) introduced the Senate's parity bill earlier this year.

Time is running out for the Congress to pass mental health parity legislation before the end of the session. Senate action on the issue is expected in September, but it is unclear when the House will act on parity. Mental health advocates have called on grassroots activists to encourage lawmakers to pass legislation for full mental health parity before Congress adjourns for the year.

More Information

• Read the House Bill
  PDF* (To access this file, you will need the free Acrobat reader )
  HTML

• Take action Now: A toll-free hotline has been set up to enable parity supporters to urge the House leadership to pass the Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act this year, and to reject efforts to provide less-than-full parity for all mental disorders. To make your voice heard, call 1-866-PARITY4 or 1-866-727-4894.Contact House Leaders.
  
  

Newsbytes

Busy Congressional Schedule Could Benefit Family Opportunity Act
With few legislative days remaining before the November elections and larger health care proposals seeming to fall by the wayside - including popular patient's bill of rights and Medicare prescription drug reform legislation - the Family Opportunity Act could be among the few health care bills that Congress gets done this year. The Family Opportunity Act (S. 321, H.R. 600) would expand Medicaid coverage to more children with severe mental or physical disabilities. Each year, parents across the country give up custody of their children with mental health conditions in order to obtain the expanded mental health services available under Medicaid.

• Take action Now: Tell lawmakers to pass the Family Opportunity Act before Congress adjourns.
  

Feds Plan October Launch for Disability Site
President Bush signed an Executive Memorandum in August, calling for the creation of a comprehensive new web site on federal disability related programs and services. It is scheduled to launch in October.

• Read the Memorandum
  

Mental Health Commission Meeting Focuses on Children
The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health met yesterday in Chicago, Illinois with the meeting continuing through today. Children's issues are the focus and the proceedings will include a presentation on trauma and the impact of children, school based mental health services and comprehensive community based systems of care.

• Learn more about the President's Commission on Mental Health
  
• Submit a comment to the President's Commission on Mental Health
  

Congress Considers Mental Health Spending
The legislation that funds programs under the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), called the Labor-HHS appropriations bill, may be headed for an early September showdown in the House. Earlier this summer, the Senate approved its version of the bill with approximately $4 billion more in discretionary spending than the House has currently allocated. However, budget negotiations continue and it is unclear whether the House will increase funding levels for CMHS's programs as recommended by mental health advocates. Because other contentious items - such as education spending - have yet to be addressed, lawmakers may delay action on the bill until after the fall elections. Advocates are being asked to reiterate to Members of Congress the importance of increased spending on mental health.

Take action Now: Tell members of the House Labor-HHS Subcommittee to increase funding for community based programs and services for children and adults with severe mental disorders.

Available exclusively to our online subscribers, the Mental Health Policy Reporter supplements the Bazelon Center's action alerts and legislative updates by providing activists with a regular bulletin on significant policy developments that affect people with mental illnesses. Subscribe online at http://www.bazelon.org/takeaction/alerts/subscribe.htm.