MHA's Executive Briefing

Senate passes mental health parity bill; House bill advances

The Senate on Sept. 18 unanimously passed the Mental Health Parity Act (S. 558), which would require group health plans to provide mental health benefits on a par with medical and surgical benefits. On Sept. 19, the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee voted 10-3 to pass a separate mental health parity measure, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act (H.R. 1424).

American Hospital Association Executive Vice President Rick Pollack called the Senate vote “an important step towards improving health care for millions of Americans. As this bill goes to conference, we urge Congress to put patients first and ensure equitable health care coverage for Americans with mental and substance use disorders.”

[ via AHA News Now ]

Mental health funds sought

On September 19, Randy Hendrix, head of the state's Department of Mental Health, asked the Legislative Budget Committee for a minimum increase of $28 million for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Approximately 25% of the funds are needed to help fund 15 community mental health centers that have seen an increasing number of uninsured patients.

Mental health funds sought

On September 19, Randy Hendrix, head of the state's Department of Mental Health, asked the Legislative Budget Committee for a minimum increase of $28 million for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Approximately 25% of the funds are needed to help fund 15 community mental health centers that have seen an increasing number of uninsured patients.

House, Senate approve extension of Mental Health Parity Act

The House and Senate recently approved a one-year extension of the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996, which has been extended each year since its expiration in 2002. While this congressional action maintains the protections afforded by the original bill, it falls short of the new, expanded parity legislation called for this year by the American Hospital Association and some 250 other health organizations. In an October letter prompted by Hurricane Katrina, these groups warned Senate and House leadership that loopholes in the 1996 statute, which requires group health plans to fund mental health benefits at the same level as medical and surgical benefits, allow for higher co-payments, deductibles, and co-insurance payments for mental health services. The groups said a mere extension of the law "is no remedy and would further perpetuate the discrimination faced by those with mental health needs." The AHA has long advocated parity for hospital days, outpatient visits, co-pays, deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket costs for in-network services.

[ via AHA News ]

Coalition urges House to vote on mental health parity bill

The Coalition for Fairness in Mental Illness Coverage last week urged House leadership to bring the Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act to a vote, noting that a majority of the House has co-sponsored the legislation for three consecutive years. The bill would end insurance discrimination against individuals with mental illness by ensuring health plans cover mental health treatments and services as they do other medical care. AHA is a member of the coalition.

[ via AHA News ]

Bill would improve access for the mentally ill to emergency services

American Hospital Association-backed legislation introduced in the Senate late last week would allow non-public psychiatric hospitals to receive reimbursement for care provided under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act to Medicaid beneficiaries aged 21-64. The Medicaid Emergency Psychiatric Care Act, introduced by Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-ME, would resolve the existing conflict between EMTALA and the Institution for Mental Diseases exclusion that currently prohibits non-public psychiatric hospitals from receiving Medicaid reimbursement for emergency psychiatric treatment delivered to Medicaid patients aged 21-64.

"This will relieve overcrowding in emergency departments and provide the appropriate care these patients deserve in a more timely manner," AHA Executive Vice President Rick Pollack said in a recent letter to Snowe expressing the AHA’s support for the bill. Co-sponsors of the legislation include Sens. Kent Conrad, D-ND, Blanche Lincoln, D-AR, and Susan Collins, R-ME. The National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems and other associations also have endorsed the legislation. (via AHA News)

Bill Would Cover Anti-Anxiety Medications

JLawmakers said July 1 they would seek to add to Medicare's prescription drug benefit a category of drugs commonly used to treat anxiety, insomnia and seizures.

The benefit, which begins Jan. 1, currently excludes coverage of a category of drugs called benzodiazepines. But mental health experts say that "benzos" are sometimes the most appropriate drugs for patients, and that a sudden switch to other drugs can be life-threatening. Xanax, Valium, and Ativan are among the most widely used benzos.

For the full story from Yahoo! News, click here.

Stark bill seeks equal coverage for mental illness

Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) introduced legislation to provide Medicare patients with coverage for mental illness equal to that for physical illness. According to Stark's office, 20% of seniors display mental difficulties that are not part of the normal aging process. Under his bill, the 190-day lifetime cap on inpatient psychiatric services would be eliminated and the 50% copay for outpatient mental health services would be reduced to 20%. State licensed marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors also would be allowed to provide Medicare-covered services. HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt would be required to study whether Medicare criteria to cover Alzheimer's and other cognitive disorders are too restrictive. Sen. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.) is introducing a companion bill in the Senate. (via Modern Healthcare)