Volume 16, No. 2, Spring 2008
By Congressman Bill Delahunt
The recent tragic teen suicides on Nantucket bring to light a serious health issue that roughly 54 million Americans and their families are dealing with–mental illness.
Perhaps one of the largest factors playing a major part in preventing an estimated two-thirds of the mentally ill from getting the treatment they need is the discrimination that continues to be associated with this disease.
It is a tragedy that, because of this, many continue to suffer.
It is important that we address this issue and that is why I was a proud supporter of H.R. 1424, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. This legislation was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 268-148 last month. The Senate passed its own version of this bill back in September and the differences between the two acts were being resolved as this was written.
This landmark proposal, authored by Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), would establish mental health parity and end the discrimination perpetuated by the insurance companies against those suffering from mental illness or substance addiction.
According to the Congressional Research Service, private health insurers often provide less coverage for mental illnesses than for other medical conditions.
Historically, health plans have imposed lower annual or lifetime dollar ceilings on mental health coverage; limited treatment of mental health illnesses by covering fewer hospital days and outpatient office visits; and increased patient’s share of costs for mental health care by raising deductibles and co-payments.
This lack of parity reflects insurers’ concerns that mental disorders are difficult to diagnose and that mental health care is expensive and often ineffective.
However, the 1999 Surgeon General’s report on mental health concluded that mental illnesses often have a biological basis, just like many other traditional medical conditions. It also found that most mental disorders are treatable.
However, if mental illnesses are left untreated, these conditions cost our country a staggering $550 billion annually. They also take a devastating toll on families, communities and millions of individuals for whom the lack of adequate insurance remains the sole barrier to obtaining necessary care.
The U.S. Surgeon General reports that one in five Americans–children as well as adults–suffers from a mental or brain-based illness. It is imperative that every child deserves the chance for a healthy start in life, including treatment for physical or mental conditions. Without the availability of adequate care, the ability of children who suffer from mental illnesses to learn and succeed in school is negatively impacted to a major degree.
This legislation specifically requires group health plans to offer mental health and substance abuse benefits equal to their medical and surgical benefits. The measure would extend to all Americans the same standard of coverage as that enjoyed by their Members of Congress, and would bar insurers from charging higher deductibles, co-payments, and out-of-pocket expenses than for standard medical care, or imposing restrictive limitations on the length of mental health treatment received.
It is time that the Congress takes long overdue action on the issue of mental health parity. I am hopeful that legislative differences between both versions of this proposal will be resolved and it will soon be signed into law as we finally address the stigma of care faced by those suffering from mental illness and substance abuse.
As always if you have any questions or may need assistance in contacting any of these agencies, please feel free to call my Cape and Islands District office toll-free at 1-800-870-2626 or drop by at 146 Main Street in Hyannis.