Reps. Kennedy, Ramstad Promote Mental Health Parity Bill

Main Category: Mental Health
Article Date: 19 Jan 2007 - 16:00 PDT

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Reps. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) and Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) on Tuesday in Providence, R.I., held the first public hearing in a tour across the U.S. to gain support for legislation that would require health insurers to cover mental illness at the same level as they cover physical illness, the AP/St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. The two representatives said they hope the hearings will help "dissolve the stigma associated with mental illness and addiction," the AP/Pioneer Press reports (Smith, AP/St. Paul Pioneer Press, 1/17). The legislation would require health insurers to provide reimbursements, copayments, deductibles and limits on physician visits for mental health care at the same level as for physical care (Kaplan, The Hill, 1/16). Republican lawmakers in the last congressional session would not vote on the bill and expressed concern that the legislation would lead to increases in health insurance premiums (AP/St. Paul Pioneer Press, 1/17). Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) blocked the measure several times and suggested that mandates would increase premiums and that market forces could force insurance companies to provide mental health parity. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has promised Kennedy and Ramstad that the legislation will receive a House vote after the bill passes through committees. President Bush in 2002 said he would sign a mental health parity bill. He said at the time, "Our health insurance system must treat serious mental illness like any other disease" (The Hill, 1/16). Kennedy said, "We should not ignore the fact these are physical illnesses and they should be treated as such. Unfortunately, people regard these as moral issues that reflect the moral character of the person" (AP/St. Paul Pioneer Press, 1/17).

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