By an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 376 to 47, the U.S. House of
Representatives approved final legislation yesterday that will help ensure
better access to treatment for people suffering from mental illnesses.
The
Paul Wellstone-Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity
Act (H.R. 6983) would require group health insurance plans that cover
mental and addiction health benefits to put those benefits on equal
footing with physical ailments. Private health insurers generally
provide less coverage for mental illnesses than for other medical
conditions.
"Today,
approximately forty-four million Americans suffer from mental illness,
but only one-third receive treatment. One reason is that private health
insurers generally provide less coverage for mental illnesses and
substance abuse than for other medical conditions," said U.S. Rep.
George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor
Committee. “This bill is an important step towards ending the stigma
attached to mental illness and providing fair coverage to those in
need.”
The legislation prohibits
employer group health plans from imposing limitations on coverage for
mental illnesses that they do not impose on physical illnesses. For
example, the legislation would require that group health plans offer
the same terms for deductibles, limits on hospital stays and outpatient
visits, and co-payments.
H.R.
6983 will allow employers to offer more comprehensive mental health
coverage without substantial additional costs, while significantly
reducing out-of-pocket costs for plan participants.
“In passing the Paul Wellstone-Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and
Addiction Equity Act today we are one step closer to ending a blatant
injustice that exists within our nation’s health care system -
discrimination against patients seeking treatment for mental illnesses.
For far too long, millions of Americans who need mental health care
have been denied access to treatment, often with tragic results, " said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD).
Some
states already have strong requirements for the coverage and treatment
of mental illness. H.R. 6983 would not affect state laws that offer
stronger consumer protections.
The
bill is named after the late Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN) and current
Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM), both longtime advocates of mental health
awareness and parity.
See how your Representative voted!
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