Senate Passes "Mental Health Parity"

Mental Health America commends Senators for moving to end insurance discrimination and calls on the House to now pass S.558

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (September 19, 2007)—Mental Health America commends 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.

"The support of this legislation is overwhelming as it should be," said David Shern, president and CEO of Mental Health America. "The science is clear. Tomes of research demonstrate the interconnectivity of mental and general health. Public policy is finally catching up with science through passage of this important legislation."

S. 558 has a wide range of supporters that, for the first time, includes business and insurance leaders, as well as mental health advocates. For details on the legislation and more information, go to www.equitycampaign.net.

"With passage earlier this summer of legislation that would provide parity in mental health coverage under both Medicare and the State Children's Mental Health Program, Congress has a historic opportunity this year to end discrimination against people with mental health disorders in both private plans and federal health program," said Shern. "As we celebrate this first step, we urge House and Senate leaders to make history."

Mental Health America and its national network of affiliates now looks to members of the House to pass S. 558 and make history.