The Bell Logo
Subscribe

Go to Page 2

WHAT’S INSIDE

What’s on the Horizon for Refractory Depression Treatment

Disease or a State of Mind: New NMHA Survey on Depression

Lessons Learned: MHA in Middle Tennessee Takes on Status Quo For Latino Community

First Person: A Consumer’s Perspective on Psychiatric Research

From the MHA Field

A Moment in Mental Health History

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

See center insert for updates on key issues that affect state advocates, consumers and the mental health community-at-large, including:

  • State Advocacy Efforts
  • Federal Legislation
  • Healthcare Reform Advocacy Trainings
  • NMHA’s Advocacy Resource Center

MHA Takes on Status Quo For Latino Community

The Mental Health Association of Middle Tennessee started the “Encuentro Latino” program to help connect Nashville’s rapidly growing Latino population to the area’s mental health services. Pictured above are teenagers who participate in one of the MHA’s focus groups organized to help assess their peers’ needs. 

August 2001
Senate Committee Passes Full Parity

Millions of Americans with mental illness are a step closer to getting coverage for needed mental health treatment thanks to the recent passage of the Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2001 by the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP).

NMHA President and CEO Michael M. Faenza praised the HELP Committee for its action on the bill. "It will go a long way toward finally ending the appalling practice of healthcare discrimination that denies people access to necessary therapies," Faenza said of the legislation.

The bill, cosponsored by Sens. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., and Paul Wellstone,

D-Minn., is expected to go to the full Senate soon after Congress returns from its summer recess Sept. 3. The committee's unanimous vote paves the way for the Senate to move on the legislation before the 1996 Mental Health Parity Act expires Oct. 1. If passed, the bill will go to the House of Representatives for a final vote.

The act, Senate Bill 543, would require group health plans that offer mental health benefits to provide mental health coverage that is on par with medical and surgical benefits. It would also narrow exemptions available in the current 1996 federal parity law that allow employers to limit hospital stays and outpatient visits, and impose high copayments and deductibles. The measure calls for parity for all mental disorders but does not cover substance abuse.

The HELP Committee modified the legislation during its recent "mark-up" to move it forward, and in the process accepted changes that should insulate the bill from future attack. Most significant, the compromise bill now exempts businesses with up to 50 employees—the original bill would have limited that exemption to companies with up to 25 workers.

The amended legislation also clarifies that, in keeping with the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, out-of-network mental health benefits are not required to be at parity with other health coverage as long as plan members have reasonable access to in-network providers, and that health plans can manage mental health benefits.

NMHA and its affiliates have thrown their full support behind the bill, and rallied for its passage by contacting members of Congress and attracting Senate cosponsors—but much work remains to be done. For more information about organizing support for the act, see related cover story in the enclosed State Advocacy Update (center insert) and call 800-969-NMHA (6642).