[Adta] Fw: Parity Legislation Reintroduced in U.S. Senate

[Larmeniox]

Mental Health Parity Bill
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Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 9:51 PM
Subject: Parity Legislation Reintroduced in U.S. Senate


>
> E-News from Washington
>
> Vol. 07-07
>
> February 13, 2007
>
>
> Mental Health Parity Legislation Reintroduced in U.S. Senate
>
>
>
> On February 12, 2007, Sens. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and Pete Domenici
> (R-NM) introduced the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007. The bill, which
> AMHCA supports, differs from past parity legislation in that an agreement
> has been reached on provisions in the bill by the business community,
> including insurers and employers, and members of the mental health 
> provider
> and advocacy communities. The new legislation seeks to eliminate
> discriminatory health insurance coverage for those with mental disorders.
> Reps. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN) are expected to
> introduce identical legislation in the coming weeks.
>
>
>
> The Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 closes loopholes enacted in the 1996
> federal parity law and provides parity for day and visit limits,
> co-payments, and deductibles. The new legislation will protect the 113
> million of Americans who have mental health coverage through their
> employers, provided there are at least 50 or more employees. The bill,
> however, does not mandate that companies provide mental health benefits.
>
>
>
> The legislation is modeled on parity that has been provided to the 8.5
> million enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, and
> includes parity for substance abuse and chemical dependency. The bill
> preserves state laws that require the coverage of mental disorders, giving
> assurance to the many Americans who are currently protected by a state
> parity law. Thus, for most of the 25 million Americans covered by a state
> parity law, employers would not be able to drop diagnoses that are 
> required
> to be covered in that state. The Mental Health Parity Act spells out a
> narrow preemption of state laws, preserving provisions of laws that 
> provide
> patient protections. In addition, the bill also requires parity for
> our-of-network services when a health plan offers those, as well as
> in-network services.
>
>
>
> The legislation has been referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor
> and Pensions Committee, where a markup of the parity bill will be held on
> February 14, 2007.
>
>
>
> AMHCA has long been an advocate for passage of a comprehensive mental
> health parity law and will work to ensure its ultimate enactment. Please
> stay tuned to E-News from Washington, the Advocate, as well as other AMHCA
> publications for news and a sample letter of support for the new parity.
>
>
>
> For additional information on this or any other issue, please contact Beth
> Powell, AMHCA's director of public policy and professional issues, at
> 800-326-2642, ext. 105, or by e-mail at bpowell at amhca.org
>
>
>
>
>
> Beth Powell
>
> Director, Public Policy and Professional Issues
>
> American Mental Health Counselors Association
>
> The only organization working exclusively for mental health counselors
>
> 801 N. Fairfax Street, Suite 304
>
> Alexandria, VA  22314
>
> Phone: 703-548-6002, ext. 105
>
>            800-326-2642, ext. 105
>
> FAX:     703-548-4775
>
> Website:  www.amhca.org < http://www.amhca.org/ >
>
> E-mail:     bpowell at amhca.org < mailto:bpowell at amhca.org >
>
>
>
> Mark your calendar now: July 26-28, 2007
> AMHCA's Annual Conference in New Orleans
>