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Senators Domenici and Wellstone seek Cosponsors for Parity Act
NAMI CALLS FOR INSURANCE DISCRIMINATION/PARITY STORIES Since Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Paul Wellstone (D-MN) introduced the Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2001 in March, 25 cosponsors have signed on to the bill. However, as action on this bill in the Senate nears, more cosponsors are needed to ensure passage of this critical legislation that would end discriminatory insurance practices against people with mental illnesses and their families. More importantly, the October 1, 2001 expiration date of the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 is drawing closer. Of special concern to NAMI are several Republican Senators that need to hear from NAMI members and advocates in their states urging them to cosponsor this historic legislation that will ensure equitable insurance benefits for people living with mental illnesses and their families. THE MENTAL HEALTH EQUITABLE TREATMENT ACT OF 2001 (S 543) - requires that all limitations on the coverage for "severe biologically-based mental illnesses" be equal to those for medical and surgical benefits, - ends arbitrary caps on inpatient days and outpatient visits, - ends higher co-payments and deductible requirements that apply only to treatment for mental illness, - lowers the current 50-employee small business exemption to 25, thereby expanding parity coverage to an additional 15 million people, - removes the current September 30, 2001 sunset provision of the 1996 Mental Health Parity Act. MINIMAL COST Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said the Congressional Budget Office told him this week that the cost of the bill he is sponsoring with Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., would be "negligible, especially when contrasted with the cost impact upon society." Click here to see full article on Medscape (Requires free Medscape registration to view, select the link and hit cancel to get the registration screen). ACTION NEEDED All are encouraged to contact their Senators and urge them to cosponsor and support the Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act - S 543 and join the bipartisan effort to end insurance discrimination against people with severe mental illnesses. All members of the Senate can be reached by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or by email at http://www.nami.org/policy.htm and click on "Write to Congress." In addition, it is critically important that NAMI members living in the states of the following Senators call and fax these offices to urge cosponsorship of S 543: Senator Conrad Burns (Montana) - 202-224-2644 Fax
202-224-8594 If your Senator is already a cosponsor of the S 543, thank them for their support and encourage them to contact and strongly urge their colleagues in the Senate to cosponsor S 543. Current list of cosponsors of S 543. For more background information on the Mental Health
Equitable Treatment Act of 2001 and a Hot Issues Action Alert click on http://www.nami.org/update/20010406.html All NAMI state organizations, local affiliates, members and interested advocates are encouraged to disseminate these alerts and the NAMI E-News as widely as possible. NAMI CALLS FOR INSURANCE DISCRIMINATION/PARITY STORIES YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL - HELP CHANGE THE SYSTEM WITH YOUR STORY NAMI's Policy and Communications Team wants personal, first-hand stories from people who have faced insurance discrimination and long term-disability. NAMI supports full parity in both private (individual employer-based) and public (Medicare, Medicaid, and other government-sponsored) insurance coverage for mental illnesses. Mental illnesses are both "blameless" and treatable. Non-discriminatory coverage for the necessary medical care for these illnesses is essential. The discrimination in access to care is evidenced by limited coverage, punitive co-pays and restricted access to hospitalization during acute episodes. NAMI has been actively pursuing non-discrimination clauses in both federal and state insurance laws. Terms of Submission We appreciate the opportunity to review any story. While we can't assure you that we'll be able to use it; we can assure you that names will remain confidential unless we contact you first for permission. You can e-mail your story to kimberly@nami.org (please make "STORYBANK" the subject" or you can send it to STORYBANK, Please include as many specific details (including dates, diagnosis, hospitalizations and relevant personal information- ie. age, education, occupation, insurance plans, etc.) as possible in your story. In addition, please include your contact information. |
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Opinions expressed in this web site do not necessarily reflect the views of NAMI Santa Cruz County, NAMI California or any affiliated organizations. We attempt to present a balanced perspective on issues by presenting multiple viewpoints. Copyright 2005 National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Santa Cruz County, All Rights Reserved. FAIR USE NOTICE: This may contain copyrighted (©) material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of ecological, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml If you wish to use copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. |
