On Wednesday, March
5th, the Paul Wellstone Mental
Health and Addiction Equity Act (Bill # H.R.1424)
was brought to a vote on the
House floor and passed 268-141.
The bill is:
"To amend section 712 of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
section 2705 of the Public Health
Service Act, and section 9812 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require
equity in the provision of mental health
and substance-related disorder benefits
under group health plans, to prohibit
discrimination on the basis of genetic
information with respect to health
insurance and employment, and for other
purposes."
General Notes:
-
The Senate
has already passed a parity bill. The
House of Representatives has now passed
an even broader version, which is an
important step forward. Rep. Patrick
Kennedy's leadership has been essential
in helping move this issue forward -
along with Senator Edward Kennedy and
Senator Pete Domenici of
New Mexico.
-
The
Senate and House bills now need to be
negotiated to be sent to the President
to be signed into law.
-
It's time to have that happen. This
year. This effort has taken over 10
years to get this far. But mental
illness does not discriminate between
Republicans and Democrats.
Click HERE to link to Congress.org for
details on the legislation's timeline.
Click HERE to link to Representative Patrick
Kennedy's website
