The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“MENTAL HEALTH PARITY NOW!” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E989 on June 7, 2002.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
MENTAL HEALTH PARITY NOW!
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HON. STENY H. HOYER
of maryland
in the house of representatives
Thursday, June 6, 2002
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, The National Mental Health Association's, NMHA, powerful vision for our country is to be a just, humane and healthy society in which all people are accorded respect, dignity and the opportunity to achieve their full potential free from stigma and prejudice.
Today, June 6, 2002, Americans are rallying on Capitol Hill to send Members of Congress a clear and unified message: Mental Health Parity Now! We must do more than simply hear what they are saying; we must persevere until we make it a legal reality.
Passage of a Mental Health Parity Bill would be a major step toward realizing the vision of the NMHA. Specifically, it is my hope that this Congress will pass the Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2002, which will address the critical need of assuring that insurance coverage for physical ailments and mental ailments are comparable. Mental illness is real and widespread, but fortunately it is often very treatable and manageable.
Unfortunately, a parity amendment to the fiscal year 2002 spending bill for the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, which was passed by the Senate, failed in conference on a party-line vote. The amendment would have closed the loopholes of 1996 Mental Health Parity Act and given true parity to the American people. Instead, Congress extended the existing flawed mental health parity provision up until December 31, 2003. This leaves this important issue in pressing need of a resolution.
Over 54 million people in the United States experience some form of mental illness in their lifetime, but many go without the much-needed treatment a mental health professional could provide. In fact, almost half of the people of our nation with severe mental illness never seek or receive treatment. This in large part is due to stigma.
Throughout our nation's history, we have viewed mental illness with ignorance, fear and misunderstanding. We would not stand by while insurance companies put up barriers to cancer treatments, nor should we turn our backs on those suffering from mental health problems.
Many health insurers opposed to parity laws are concerned that overall health care costs will be significantly increased, due in part to the fact that treatment is sometimes more expensive and longer lasting than many physical ailments. However, access to mental health care often reduces medical claims for physical illness.
Recent studies show that full parity can be implemented without causing siqnificant cost increases for managed care. In states that have enacted parity laws, many consumers use mental health care more efficiently. In the great state of Maryland, after a small rise of less than one percentage point in the first year of parity, mental health costs held steady in year two and declined in year three.
As millions of suffering Americans go without medical assistance, it costs the nation upwards of $150 billion each year. Vital human capital is lost and medical bills skyrocket as ailments worsen until even more expensive management is inevitable. The most damaging effect, however, is the pain and suffering that untreated individuals and their loved ones must endure.
The events and the aftermath of September 11 have exemplified the need to provide mental healthcare to all sectors of the population, including our youngest generation. Children, who are exposed to violent and threatening experiences, such as the September 11th attacks, may need special attention in order to heal emotionally.
If a child with a mental health problem is left untreated, the results can be devastating. Victims may repeatedly relive a traumatic event, which can cause anxiety and depression, impair concentration and learning and ultimately perpetuate a cycle of aggressive or violent behavior.
This vicious cycle can be lessened by strengthening families through programs and understanding, breaking down misconceptions of mental illness and providing people access to mental health professionals and vital treatment. All of these factors will help give millions of Americans the opportunity to recover and live healthy and productive lives.
I am proud that Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and I were successful in securing $20 million in funding for fiscal year 2002 for the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative, administered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. Presently, we are working to secure an additional $50 million for fiscal year 2003 to continue this highly-regarded program.
I would like to commend the National Mental Health Association and the other organizations and individuals here today, who are pushing for mental health parity. This call for parity in the coverage of costs for mental and physical ailments through insurance programs merits our serious attention. Let us make their vision a reality in the 107th, Congress.
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