The House voted a one-year extension of the 1996 mental health insurance law while waiting for a more comprehensive bill to work its way through committees. Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) noted that eleven years ago when the Mental Health Parity Act was passed, it was “only partial parity for mental illness and excluded addiction benefits.” Two bills currently under discussion in Congress attempt to plug some of those holes. In the House, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act (HR 1424) has been championed by Reps. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Jim Ramstad (R-Minn). It is expected to reach the floor for a vote before Spring recess The Senate’s bill, (S 558)
which has the backing of business and insurance, passed with a voice vote in September.
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by Phyllis Vine
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