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ALERT -- Mental Health Parity

Please act on this advocacy alert for Mental Health Insurance Parity. Thanks! 
Bob Mikesic

-----Original Message-----
From: Rachel Titsworth [mailto:rtitsworth@nami.org]
Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2002 4:22 PM

Subject: Your Support Greatly Needed for Parity!
Importance: High


Mental Health Advocates:

NAMI is marching on Capitol Hill Thursday, June 6th, to let elected officials know our strong support for the Domenici-Wellstone mental health parity bill. Kansans' work and success with mental health parity must be added to the nations voice on mental illness. 

You changed Kansas in 2001, speak out now if you want to change your nation.

Tell them: 

• The cost of mental health parity in Kansas has been much less than anticipated (the article below); 
• Greater savings are found in the benefits of that cost, i.e., less absentisum, better quality of work and fewer unemployment claims are among demonstrable outcomes of appropriate and available mental health care. Parity work; and 
• President Bush agrees. Read below the President's comments on the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health calling for nationwide mental health parity. 

Also listed below is contact information on your U.S. Senators and Representatives. Call them all as concerned Kansans. Tell them they have much to be proud of in their State's provision of parity and we all want it for the nation. For more information read the full content of this e-mail and access the website at www.nami.org. To continue the victory over stigma in mental health insurance parity, call today! Together we can and we will change our country.

Stephen Feinstein, Ph.D. 
Elizabeth Adams, President, NAMI 
Kansas Executive Director

 Rachel Titsworth
Office Administrator

Senator Pat Roberts, 202-224-4774
Senator Sam Brownback, 202-224-6521
Representative Jerry Moran, 202-225-2715
Representative Jim Ryun, 202-225-6601
Representative Dennis Moore, 202-225-2865
Representative Todd Tiahrt, 202-225-6216

Kansas Parity Success Continues...A study to review the financial impact of mental health parity in the Kansas State Employees Group Health Insurance Program (GHIP) was conducted and reported on February 15, 2002.

The fiscal note associated with SB547 last year projected a total increase in HMO and PPO plan costs by .2% and 1.44% for the indemnity plan. Administration ordered the review to verify if the estimates proved accurate.

In the HMO mental health parity produced a slight increase of .14% of total costs in '99 and only .05% of total claims in the indemnity for plan year 2000, based on claims data available. (Excerpted Dept. of Administration, Kansas State Employees Health Care Commission)

To read the full details of the Kansas parity bill visit the Kansas Legislative website at www.kslegislature.org then input HB2033 in 1999/2000. 

Improving Access to Quality Mental Health Care

Today's Presidential Action

• In a speech at the University of New Mexico, President Bush announced his plans to improve access to quality, effective mental health care. The President announced that he will work to pass federal mental health parity legislation to eliminate disparities in the coverage of mental health benefits. 

• The President also announced the formation of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health to develop recommendations on improving the nation's mental health service delivery system. 

Background on Today's Presidential Action 

• Each year, millions of Americans suffer from mental illness. Many adults and children are significantly disabled by severe and persistent mental illness. Untreated mental illness is a great national problem. 

• The stigma of mental illness often discourages patients from seeking care despite the existence of new drugs and therapies that have vastly improved the chances for effective treatment and recovery. Without access to necessary and effective quality care, far too many Americans will live with untreated mental illness that too often can lead to homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction or incarceration.

Parity in Mental Health Benefits

• Despite the advances that have been made in the science of mental health treatment, many health plans unfairly treat coverage for mental health benefits by imposing co-payments, deductibles or limits on outpatient visits that are more restrictive than those placed on physical illness. 

• The President has a history of supporting parity legislation. In 1997 as Governor of Texas, he signed legislation into law that required plans to provide fair treatment to patients with severe mental illnesses.

• The President will work with Senator Domenici and other leaders in the House and Senate to reach an agreement on mental health parity legislation that can pass Congress and be signed into law. The legislation must prevent plans from applying less generous treatment or financial limitations on mental health benefits than are imposed on medical or surgical benefits. 

The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health

• Currently, numerous Federal, State and local government entities oversee mental health programs, policy, funding and the diverse network of public and private providers. More efficient organization and coordination could assist these providers in ensuring effective treatment is received by those in need.

• To address this issue, President Bush is establishing the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. The Commission will be composed of fifteen members, appointed by the President, and seven ex-officio members from executive branch agencies. The Commission will identify the needs of patients, the barriers to care, and investigate community-based care models that have success in coordinating and providing mental health services. The Commission will have one year to recommend immediate improvements that can be implemented by all aspects of the public and private mental health system to improve coordination and quality of services with existing resources.

For more information on the President's initiatives, please visit www.whitehouse.gov