Parity Bill Signed Into Law

One of the biggest hurdles in people getting access to treatment for drug and alcohol dependence has been greatly reduced with the passage of the Wellstone Domenici Mental Health Parity Bill requires all insurance to treat mental health treatment (including addiction) the same as all other biologically based diseases. No more caps on benefits. No more second tier funding.

From Join Together:

The long-held dream of parity in behavioral healthcare is now a reality: The U.S. House of Representatives voted 263-171 to approve the Wall Street bailout bill, which includes a provision that mandates parity coverage for addiction and mental-health care, and President George Bush swiftly signed the measure into law.

The House vote came just days after the Senate passed an identical bill on a 74-25 vote. Earlier, the House had rejected a bill that called for a $700-billion bailout of the financial system but did not include the parity provision.

"This legislation is one more step in the long civil-rights struggle to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to reach their potential," said Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), who cosponsored the House bill with Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.). "For far too long, health insurance companies have used the stigma of mental illness and substance abuse as an excuse to deny coverage for those biological disorders. That ends today when this critical legislation outlaws the discrimination that is embedded in our laws and our policies."

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