Mental Health America applauds today’s vote on Mental Health Equity Legislation. The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act [HR 1424] to be voted on today by the US House of Representatives would end decades of health insurance discrimination. In a historic vote, the House will, for the first time take up comprehensive legislation to outlaw health insurance practices that discriminate against Americans with mental health and substance abuse conditions under employer sponsored health care plans. If enacted, the bill would provide comprehensive parrty for 87 million Americans covered by self-insurance plans and another 31 million covered by insured plans that are subject to state regulation.
In 2007 , Reps. Patrick Kennedy [D-R.I.] and Jim Ramsted [R-Minn] embarked on a campaign to insure Mental Health and Addiction Equity, a nationwide tour that Mental Health America helped mount to lay the foundation for their fight to equal access to health care for Americans with mental and addictive disorders.
