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On February 27, 2003, Sens. Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Reps. Jim Ramstad (R-MN) and Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) introduced the "Paul Wellstone Mental Health Parity Act." The bill, which is identical to the version introduced during the 107th Congress, requires health plans to provide full insurance coverage of mental disorders. AMHCA has long been an advocate for passage of a comprehensive mental health parity law and will to work to ensure its ultimate enactment.
The legislation is named in honor of the late Sen. Paul D. Wellstone, a long time advocate and sponsor of parity legislation, as well as other legislation to end the discrimination against persons with mental disorders. Wellstone was also the original sponsor of the Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act, legislation that, among other things, would reimburse mental health counselors under Medicare. The legislation was introduced in the Senate as S. 486 and as H.R. 953 in the House of Representatives.
Sen. Domenici, co-author of the landmark 1996 Mental Health Parity Act, has pledged to push for passage of the comprehensive parity legislation early in 2003, which builds on legislation on the 1996 law. Federal parity legislation enjoyed widespread bipartisan support in last year's Congress.
Action Needed
It is very important for AMHCA members and other mental health advocates contact their Senators and Representative to urge their support of the new legislation. Senators and Representatives can be reached by calling a newly established toll-free Parity Hotline (1-866-727-4894) that reaches the Capitol Switchboard and can connect callers to their Members of Congress.
In order to ensure swift action by both the House and Senate, the sponsors of the legislation are requesting mental health advocates to help press for additional cosponsors for their legislation. All AMHCA members and others interested in this legislation are urged to call their members of the House and Senate to ask them to cosponsor the legislation (S 486/HR 953).
Is Your Member of Congress Already a Cosponsor of S 486/HR 953?
If either of your Senators or House members are among these cosponsors, you are urged to contact their office to express thanks for their support for non-discriminatory coverage for mental illness treatment.
Senate sponsors of S 486: Coleman (R-MN), Dayton (D-MN), Grassley (R-IA), Reed (D-RI), Cochran (R-MS), Dodd (D-CT), Warner (R-VA), Reid (D-NV), Thomas (R-WY), Johnson (D-SD), Specter (R-PA), Harkin (D-IA), Lugar (R-IN), Daschle (D-SD), Graham (R-SC), Murray (D-WA), Collins (R-ME), Cantwell (D-WA), Roberts (R-KS), Edwards (D-NC), Chafee (R-RI), Lincoln (D-AR) and Bennett (R-UT).
House Cosponsors of HR 953: Abercrombie (D-HI), Ackerman (D-NY), Allen (D-ME), Andrews (D-NJ), Baca (D-CA), Baird (D-WA), Balance (D-NC), Becerra (D-CA), Berkley (D-NV), Berman (D-CA), Berry (D-AR), Bishop (D-NY), Blumenauer (D-OR), Boehlert (R-NY), Bordallo (D-GU), Boucher (D-VA), Brady (D-PA), Brown (D-FL), Brown (D-OH), Burns (R-GA), Capps (D-CA), Capuano (D-MA), Cardin (D-MD), Carson (D-OK), Carson (D-IN), Case (D-HI), Christensen (D-VI), Clyburn (D-SC), Conyers (D-MI), Cooper (D-TN), Costello (D-IL), Davis (D-IL), Davis (D-FL), Davis (D-TN), Davis (D-CA), DeFazio (D-OR), DeGette (D-CO), Delahunt (D-MA), DeLauro (D-CT), Deutsch (D-FL), Dicks (D-WA), Dingell (D-MI), Doggett (D-TX), Doyle (D-PA), Emanuel (D-IL), Engel (D-NY), English (R-PA), Etheridge (D-NC), Faleomavaega (D-AS), Farr (D-CA), Fattah (D-PA), Foley (R-FL), Ford (D-TN), Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), Frost (D-TX), Gilchrest (R-MD), Green (D-TX), Greenwood (R-PA), Grijalva (D-AZ), Gutierrez (D-IL), Hinchey (D-NY), Hoeffel (D-PA), Holden (D-PA), Holt (D-NJ), Honda (D-CA), Hooley (D-OR), Inslee (D-WA), Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Tubbs-Jones (D-OH), Kelly (R-NY), Kildee (D-MI), Kilpatrick (D-MI), Kind (D-WI), Kirk (R-IL), Kleczka (D-WI), Kucinich (D-OH), Langevin (D-RI), Larsen (D-WA), Larson (D-CT), LaTourette (R-OH), Leach (R-IA), Lee (D-CA), Levin (D-MI), Lipinski (D-IL), LoBiondo (R-NJ), Lowey (D-NY), Maloney (D-NY), Matheson (D-UT), Matsui (D-CA), McCarthy (D-NY), McCollum (D-MN), McDermott (D-WA), McGovern (D-MA), McHugh (R-NY), McNulty (D-NY), Meehan (D-MA), Menendez (D-NJ), Miller (R-CA), Miller (D-CA), Mollohan (D-WV), Moran (D-VA), Murphy (R-PA), Murtha (D-PA), Nadler (D-NY), Napolitano (D-CA), Norton (D-DC), Norwood (R-GA), Oberstar (D-MN), Olver (D-MA), Ortiz (D-TX), Owens (D-NY), Pallone (D-NJ), Pascrell (D-NJ), Pastor (D-AZ), Payne (D-NJ), Pelosi (D-CA), Peterson (D-MN), Platts (R-PA), Price (D-NC), Quinn (R-NY), Rahall (D-WV), Rangel (D-NY), Rodriguez (D-TX), Rothman (D-NJ), Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Ryan (D-OH), Sabo (D-MN), Sanchez (D-CA), Sanders (I-VT), Saxton (R-NJ), Schakowsky (D-IL), Schiff (D-CA), Scott (D-VA), Serrano (D-NY), Shays (R-CT), Simmons (R-CT), Skelton (D-MO), Slaughter (D-NY), Smith (R-NJ), Snyder (D-AR), Solis (D-CA), Stark (D-CA), Strickland (D-OH), Stupak (D-MI), Sweeney (R-NY), Tauscher (D-CA), Thompson (D-CA), Tierney (D-MA), Towns (D-NY), Udall (D-NM), Van Hollen (D-MD), Visclosky (D-IN), Walsh (R-NY), Wamp (R-TN), Watson (D-CA), Waxman (D-CA), Weiner (D-NY), Wilson (R-SC), Woolsey (D-CA) and Wynn (D-MD).
Thanks for your participation!!!!!
Beth Powell
AMHCA Director of Public Policy and Professional Issues
801 N. Fairfax Street, Suite 304
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-548-6002, ext. 105
www.amhca.org
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