Family & Friends
Action Council

August 3, 2007

Success x 2!

Senate Agrees to Remove Barriers
to Mental Health Coverage

S-CHIP Passes House and Senate, Covers
Treatment for Low-income Families

Breaking News on Mental Health Parity:

Senate Agrees to Remove Barriers to Mental Health Coverage

Republican senators this morning removed language from the Senate's parity bill that would have made it more difficult for people with eating disorders to get treatment under many health insurance plans. The senators heard from business leaders and insurance companies, who last night decided to strike the preemption section of the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 (S 558). Mental health advocates believed that the preemption clause would weaken the parity bill, leaving it up to state laws to determine whether eating disorders would be covered.

"This is a huge step forward," said EDC President Kitty Westin. "It shows that our work is paying off.

"It appears that the Senate will vote on parity this afternoon before the summer recess begins. If that happens, then mental health parity will probably be on top of the House agenda in early September, when Congress returns."

Congressman Patrick Kennedy and his staff were excited by the news during a meeting this morning with EDC staff and other mental health advocates. Kennedy and Congressman Jim Ramstad are leading the effort for parity in the House of Representatives. Today's action brings the two bills closer to passage.

The EDC has actively supported the House and Senate bills.

WHY PARITY MATTERS

Many insurance companies are reluctant to pay for treatment when the diagnosis is an eating disorder. State-by-state, people who have insurance spend endless hours negotiating with company representatives for treatment that is often limited to 30 days of care, which may not be enough to treat the underlying causes of the eating disorder. Also, many insurance policies require that a separate deductible be paid for mental health treatment.

The goal of state and national parity laws is to create equality between medical and mental health care and coverage. A strong national parity law would supercede weaker state laws, creating a "floor" for coverage. While most Americans support mental health parity, traditional opponents include business groups such as retailers, realtors, manufacturers, and some insurance companies.

(Photo: The Speaker of the House of Representatives,  Nancy Pelosi, joined members of Congress in recognizing EDC President Kitty Westin for her work in support of mental health parity. Left to right, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, Congressman Jim Ramstad, Kitty Westin, Speaker Nancy Pelosi.)

What happens next?

The Energy and Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives will probably vote in early September on the House parity bill, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2007 (HR 1424).

What can you do?

If you are represented by a member who serves on this committee, call, write, or visit the member in August and explain why you think mental health parity is needed. Most members are spending much of August in their home districts, close to where you work or live.

HOUSE ENERGY & COMMERCE COMMITTEE

John D. Dingell (MI), Chairman

S-CHIP Passes House and Senate, Covers Treatment for Low-income Families

The State Children's Health Insurance Program passed both the House and the Senate and will soon be headed for the president's desk. The program is being reauthorized by Congress and expanded to cover more low-income families.

Several hundred people with eating disorders qualify for S-CHIP support each year. They arrive at treatment centers often unaware that their care is being paid for by this federal assistance program. In many cases, the treatment providers themselves are unaware that the patient's policy is being paid for by federal tax dollars since claims are processed through individual insurance companies such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

President Bush said he would veto the bill because of its expansion and increased expense. A wide majority of senators and representatives support the legislation and may override the president's veto. 

Visit the official S-CHIP Web site.

Do you care about these issues? Support the EDC.

We focus on Washington, D.C., and national policies on eating disorders. We work with Congress, the federal government, the media, and others. From our office across the street from the U.S. Capitol complex, we call attention to the Americans struggling and dying from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and eating disorders not otherwise specified.

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Or, mail a check payable to Eating Disorders Coalition, to the address below.

Eating Disorders Coalition
611 Pennsylvania Avenue SE #423
Washington, DC 20003-4303  USA