Posted by susan C on March 18, 2002, at 12:39:48
Hi akc and everyone else,
I thought you would like to see the results of your helpful reminders to me here on PBS and PBO to get me going writing to my representative (nudge nudge to everybody else out there....)
This is From Representative Rick Larson, Washington State:
Good morning. Thank you for the e-mail requesting that I support mental
health parity legislation. Below please find an update on the legislation
that I co-sponsored on this issue. Let me know if you have any additional
quesitons.House Resolution 162 is comprehensive legislation requiring health
insurance companies to establish parity between mental health/substance
abuse coverage and medical/surgical coverage.The Mental Health and Substance Abuse Parity Act would prohibit insurance
companies from setting limits or requirements for mental health and
substance abuse coverage that are not imposed on medical-surgical
coverage. Legislation passed by the House in 1996 prohibited unequal
limits on annual and lifetime spending levels for mental health care. This
legislation goes further by including substance abuse and addressing
limits on the frequency of treatments, number of visits, co-pays,
deductibles, out-of-network charges, and out-of-pocket contributions.The bill is endorsed by Coalition for Fairness in Mental Illness Coverage.
The Coalition includes the American Medical Association, American
Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, National
Mental Health Association, American Managed Behavioral Healthcare
Association, Federation of American Health Systems and National
Association of Psychiatric Health Systems.Again, thank you for contacting me to share your thoughts...
Sincerely,
Rick LarsenU.S. Representative
Washington State - 2nd District
poster:susan C
thread:20109
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020314/msgs/20109.html