News Release from Mental Health Association in North Carolina:
U.S. Senate Passes Mental Health Parity
September 20, 2007 (Raleigh, NC) – Two days ago on September 18, the U.S. Senate made history by passing the Mental Health Parity Act (S. 558) by unanimous consent – an incredible victory for mental health! The bill provides full parity for mental illness and substance abuse. The House must still pass the bill before it goes to the President for signing.
The Mental Health Association in NC joins Mental Health America in commending the United States Senate for passing critical legislation to end mental health insurance discrimination, and its sponsors, Senators Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), Michael B. Enzi (R-Wyo.) and Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) for their leadership. The bill – S. 558, the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 – will ensure that Americans with employer-sponsored health insurance and their families receive mental health care coverage at the same level as coverage for general health problems. For details on the legislation and more information, go to www.equitycampaign.net.
The good news doesn’t stop there. Yesterday morning, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health voted by a bipartisan 10-3 margin to approve H.R. 1424, the House version of parity legislation sponsored by Representatives Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN). While the House bill still must be approved by the full Ways and Means Committee as well as the Energy and Commerce Committee, this important test vote showed that support for parity is broad and bipartisan.
Mental Health America and its national network of affiliates now looks to members of the House to pass S. 558 and make history.
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