I am very active in the mental health field. I write frequent letters on behalf of legislation going on in our local, state, and national governments. I did a post before related to the mental health parity bill that is being considered this year. Mental Health Parity---requiring insurance companies to provide equal coverage for mental health as all other health services.
Most people are paying much higher co-pays when seeing their psychiatrist or therapist than when seeing another specialist. Also many have a lifetime cap on using mental health services. That is just plain wrong. Can you image the outrage people would have if they tried to do this for someone with diabetes or cancer. I got this email today from NAMI :
Senate Passes Parity: House Action Needed
September 19, 2007
Last night, the U.S. Senate passed the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 (S 558), legislation requiring health plans to cover treatment for mental illness on the same terms and conditions as all other illnesses. The bill now moves to the House, where efforts are underway to move it forward later this fall.
NAMI would like to express appreciation to the sponsors of S 558 – Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM), Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and Mike Enzi (R-WY) – for their persistence and leadership in bringing parity legislation forward. NAMI also thanks all our grassroots members whose efforts have made this victory possible. We now need to ask you help again, to push parity through the House.
Action Required
The parity bill now moves to the House for consideration: Contact your member of Congress and urge them to support immediate House passage of S 558 so that the bill can be sent to the President. You can also send a letter to your Senators thanking them for supporting mental illness parity. Contact your Senators and Representative now using NAMI's Legislative Action Center .
Click here to view additional background information on S 558
So take the time to get involved. It will only take a few keystrokes to make your voice heard. One voice, one vote can make a difference.
I am very active in the mental health field. I write frequent letters on behalf of legislation going on in our local, state, and national governments. I did a post before related to the mental health parity bill that is being considered this year. Mental Health Parity---requiring insurance companies to provide equal coverage for mental health as all other health services.
Most people are paying much higher co-pays when seeing their psychiatrist or therapist than when seeing another specialist. Also many have a lifetime cap on using mental health services. That is just plain wrong. Can you image the outrage people would have if they tried to do this for someone with diabetes or cancer. I got this email today from NAMI :
So take the time to get involved. It will only take a few keystrokes to make your voice heard. One voice, one vote can make a difference.