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“PAUL WELLSTONE MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION EQUITY ACT OF 2007” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E363-E364 on March 12, 2008.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
PAUL WELLSTONE MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION EQUITY ACT OF 2007
______
speech of
HON. DIANA DEGETTE
of colorado
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to have the following letters of support for H.R. 1424, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, submitted for the Record on the floor debate of this bill.
American Correctional Association,
Alexandria, VA, February 29, 2008.Hon. Patrick J. Kennedy,Cannon HOB,Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Kennedy: On behalf of the American Correctional Association and our 18,000 members I'd like to express our full support for your bill, H.R. 1424, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007.
The health care system in our country has neglected the mentally ill long enough and it must change. We in criminal justice and more specifically the corrections profession know first-hand the effect inadequate mental health care has on our communities. Jails and prisons have become defacto mental health hospitals wherein a high prevalence of mental health problems and addiction among inmates is common and recidivism rates are high.
A report issued by the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics in September 2006 revealed that more than half of all prison and jail inmates had a mental health problem. BJS also reported that more than two-fifths of state inmates and more than half of jail inmates showed symptoms of mania, 23% of state prisoners and 30% of jail inmates suffer from depression and that 15% of state prisoners and 24% of jail inmates met the criteria for psychotic disorders. 24% of state prisoners and 19% of jail inmates suffered from substance dependence or abuse and an estimated 42% of inmates in state prisons and nearly half of those in local jails were found to have both a mental health problem and a substance dependence or abuse problem.
Without proper care and treatment in a mental hospital, these individuals will never recover or be healthy again nor will they ever be able to live a normal life. Most likely they will continue to recidivate, crowd our facilities, drive up costs throughout the entire criminal justice system and cause harm to others and unto themselves. Quite simply, correctional facilities are not equipped and corrections personnel are not trained to handle the mentally ill individuals.
We appreciate your leadership on this issue and offer you our full support for H.R. 1424, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007.
Sincerely,
Gary D. Maynard,
President.
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National Associaiton of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated
Disorders,
Highland Park, IL, March 3, 2008.Re the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007.
Hon. Patrick J. Kennedy and Hon. Jim Ramstad,House of Representatives,Washington, DC.
Dear Representatives Kennedy and Ramstad: I am writing on behalf of ANAD, the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, to urge House Members to vote YES on your bill H.R. 1424, the Paul Welistone Mental Health & Addiction Equity Act. ANAD is the nation's oldest organization dedicated to alleviating the problems of eating disorders, with an active membership composed of professionals, sufferers, and their families.
More than 8 million Americans suffering from eating disorders who face overwhelming obstacles to health insurance coverage for mental health treatment fully embrace the passage of this legislation. Eating disorders kill. Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. By closing the loopholes in the 1996 federal parity law and requiring equity in eating disorders coverage, treatment, and financial requirements, this legislation will greatly assist Americans with these potentially deadly illnesses without a costly burden to employers.
ANAD hopes that passage of your strong bipartisan bill will hasten the completion of negotiations with the Senate on a bill that will cover the full range of mental illnesses and become law this year. Further delay is unacceptable, especially for those whose lives are in peril.
We thank you for your leadership on this important issue.
Sincerely,
Vivian Hanson Meehan,President.
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Easter Seals,
Washington, DC, March 3, 2008.
Dear Representative: Easter Seals urges you to vote to support the passage of H.R. 1424, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007. Access to mental health services is essential for anyone to live a healthy life.
Mental health disorders are the second leading cause of disability and premature death in the United States and are often experienced by people with disabilities. Many health insurance plans set cost limits on mental health treatment, but do not impose similar cost limits on other medical and surgical benefits. It is critical that access to mental health services be on par with access to services for other medical conditions. Breaking down barriers to accessing mental health services improves the lives of people with disabilities, strengthens families and saves lives.
We look forward to continuing to work with you as the process moves forward Thank you for considering our views.
Sincerely,
Katherine Beh Neas,Vice President, Government Relations.
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Service Employees
International Union,
Washington, DC, March 4, 2008.
Dear Representative: The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) urges you to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1424, the Paul Wellston Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. Millions of American families are touched by mental illness and substance abuse disorders, and our workplaces are less productive when mental illness is untreated and stigmatized. H.R. 1424 would require that group health plans cover mental illness on the same terms that it provides for medical and surgical coverage. There is a growing body of evidence that supports the effectiveness of various treatments for people suffering from mental illness and substance abuse disorders. High co-pays and deductibles can discourage access to treatment, and arbitrary limits can result in discontinued therapies that would otherwise be effective. Better screening and early treatment is often the most cost-effective treatment. It is time to pass H.R. 1424 and give new hope and treatment to millions of patients and families struggling with mental illness.
Votes on this legislation will he added to the SEW scorecard found at www.seiu.org. If you have any questions, please contact Ann Kempski. Deputy Director of Legislation.
Sincerely,
Anna Burger,International Secretary-Treasurer.
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Autism Society of America,
Bethesda, MD, March 2, 2008.Hon. Patrick Kennedy,House of Representatives,Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Kennedy: On behalf of the Autism Society of America, we write in strong support of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007. This legislation will go a long way to end discrimination by private health insurers by mandating parity in the treatment of mental health coverage.
Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person's ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a
``spectrum disorder'' that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for autism, nor is there a single treatment.
While there is no single treatment for autism, intensive, sustained special education programs and behavior therapy does improve the function of children with autism, allowing them to increase their communication skills and learn. Individuals with autism often benefit from mental health treatments including the prescribing of medication and counseling. Beyond these, there are new treatments and interventions on the horizon, and it is important that individuals with autism can access breakthrough therapies.
Your legislation provides equal treatment of mental health insurance benefits compared to medical and surgical benefits specifically with respect to cost sharing requirements, financial requirements, and treatment limitations. Many individuals with autism have co-morbid mental illnesses and would greatly benefit from enactment of this legislation.
ASA, the nation's leading grassroots autism organization, exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. On behalf of our 200,000 members and supporters across the nation, we thank you for your leadership on this issue, and strongly support you in your efforts.
Sincerely,
Lee Grossman,
President and CEO.
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