MENTAL HEALTH PARITY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

BILL SPECIFICS/MFT IMPACT:
Of note, this legislation amends relevant sections of the "Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974," the "Public Health Service Act," as well as the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" requiring mental health and substance-related disorder equity under group health plans and for other purposes.  Currently, about 30 states have mental health parity laws. This legislative "compromise" bill would not pre-empt those that have more comprehensive legislation on the books.  It should be noted that in accordance with earlier Senate legislative requirements, it would allow for businesses with fewer than 50 employees potential exemption from the law.

The deal does not require coverage of behavioral health services (though about 98% of plans now cover some such services) but rather applies IF a plan does have ANY such coverage. The deal does not address the processes that managed-care plans use to select specific types of practitioners, or to select individual practitioners within those types. That is, the deal does not have an "any willing provider" or similar requirement, or an MFT (or other practitioner-type) coverage mandate.  Nevertheless, this legal principle of parity in behavioral health benefits would definitely aid MFTs and their clients who are covered by private health plans because it would reduce many clients' cost-sharing and expand coverage of behavioral health services.
 
AAMFT/CONGRESSIONAL CHAMPIONS:
The AAMFT would like to thank the hundreds of our members who answered mid-September grassroots "final-hour" advocacy initiatives by calling and urging their Senators and Member of the House of Representatives to pass parity before the end of this 110th Session of Congress.  It was an extremely successful mobilization and hopefully made a dent in the final votes.  Additionally, AAMFT Government Affairs is proud to have been a vocal and active participant in working to achieve parity for years. 

In the end, legislative passage was only possible thanks to the exemplary bi-partisan/bi-cameral commitment and dedication of House legislative leaders Congressmen Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN), and Senators Edward "Ted" Kennedy (D-MA) and Pete Domenici (R-NM).  Despite numerous roadblocks, bill number/name changes, and other political" delays, these congressional champions have truly honored the memory of one of parity's founding authors; Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN), by making this concept of fairness into a reality.    

Please contact AAMFT Government Affairs Managers Melissa Stamps and Brian Rasmussen at (703) 838-9808, or at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , with any questions or for further information on the passage of parity.