Committee on Education and Labor : U.S. House of Representatives

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House Approves Legislation to Help those with Mental Illnesses Gain Access to Treatment

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

 

WASHINGTON, DC -- By a bipartisan vote of 268 to 148, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation today that will help ensure better access to treatment for people suffering from mental illnesses.

The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act (H.R. 1424) would require group health insurance plans to put coverage for mental illnesses on equal footing with physical ailments. Private health insurers generally provide less coverage for mental illnesses than for other medical conditions.

“With this vote, we have taken an important step towards ending the stigma attached to mental illness and providing fair coverage to those in need,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. “It is critical that we enact the strongest bill possible to provide adequate coverage to individuals who suffer from the debilitating effects of mental illness.”

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.

Independent analyses have concluded that H.R. 1424 will allow employers to offer more comprehensive mental health coverage without significant additional cost, while significantly reducing out-of-pocket costs for plan participants.

Some states already have strong requirements for the coverage and treatment of mental illness. H.R. 1424 would not affect state laws that offer stronger consumer protections.

The bill is named after the late Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN), a longtime advocate of mental health awareness and parity.

“We know how important this issue was to Paul and it is in his memory that we take this vote today,” said Miller earlier today.

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (H.R. 493), which sets strict guidelines to safeguard personal genetic information, also passed today after being combined with the Wellstone bill.

Last July, the House Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee held a hearing on H.R. 1424. Click here for more information.

To read Miller’s floor statement, click here.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tom Kiley / Rachel Racusen
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