uscitizen
Villified User
House Votes to Expand Mental Health Coverage, Addiction Treatment
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
WASHINGTON — The House voted Wednesday to require equal health insurance coverage for mental and physical illnesses when policies cover both.
The 268-148 roll call was cheered by advocates who have been fighting more than a decade for what has come to be called mental health parity.
Supporters said the measure would help end the stigma of mental illness and create greater access for people needing mental health and addiction treatment.
Opponents warned it could drive up health care costs and force some employers to drop insurance coverage.
The "Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007" was named for the late Minnesota Democratic senator who championed the issue for years and who was killed in a 2002 plane crash.
"It's a historic step," said the late senator's son, David, 42. "It's a civil rights bill for people with mental illnesses and chemical addiction. It forces insurance companies to treat them as they treat others."
Forty-seven Republicans joined 221 Democrats in voting for the bill. Three Democrats voted against it.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,335399,00.html
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
WASHINGTON — The House voted Wednesday to require equal health insurance coverage for mental and physical illnesses when policies cover both.
The 268-148 roll call was cheered by advocates who have been fighting more than a decade for what has come to be called mental health parity.
Supporters said the measure would help end the stigma of mental illness and create greater access for people needing mental health and addiction treatment.
Opponents warned it could drive up health care costs and force some employers to drop insurance coverage.
The "Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007" was named for the late Minnesota Democratic senator who championed the issue for years and who was killed in a 2002 plane crash.
"It's a historic step," said the late senator's son, David, 42. "It's a civil rights bill for people with mental illnesses and chemical addiction. It forces insurance companies to treat them as they treat others."
Forty-seven Republicans joined 221 Democrats in voting for the bill. Three Democrats voted against it.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,335399,00.html