Mental health bill moves forward in Congress
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A bill that would require health insurers to cover more of the costs of treating mental health conditions moved forward in Congress on Wednesday with wide backing from employers and insurers.
The Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 cleared the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and now goes to the full Senate for a vote.
“The bill requires health insurance plans that offer mental health coverage to provide that coverage on par with financial and treatment coverage offered for other physical illnesses like heart disease, diabetes or asthma,” Republican New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici’s office said in a statement.
“The 1996 Mental Health Parity law only provided parity for annual and lifetime limits between mental health coverage and medical surgical coverage. The new bill expands parity by including deductibles, co-payments, out-of-pocket expenses, coinsurance, covered hospital days, and covered out-patient visits.”
Mental health advocates have long complained that insurers can shortchange patients with conditions ranging from depression to schizophrenia.
“The fact is that this is a good compromise measure that will bring hope and help to millions of Americans,” Domenici, a sponsor of the bill, said in a statement.
The bipartisan bill includes a small business exemption for companies with fewer than 50 employees.
“This bill closes long-standing gaps in law that limit people’s access to needed mental health care,” said Pamela Greenberg, chairwoman of The Coalition for Fairness in Mental Illness Coverage.
Health insurer Aetna supported the bill.
“Aetna believes that this legislation will promote timely and appropriate care for mental health, which is an essential component of effective health care,” the company said in a statement.
The National Retail Federation also supported the bill, worked out in consultation with industry.
Steve Pfister, the federation’s senior vice president for government relations, said the group was encouraged by the bill’s protection of medical management for the benefit and employer control over benefit design.
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