Congress Votes To Extend Parity Law For Another Year

The House and Senate voted last month to extend the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 through December 31, 2003. President George W. Bush is expected to sign the bill, HR 5716, when it reaches his desk.

The 1996 law requires parity in annual and lifetime dollar limits only. Congress extended the law once before, in 2001, when it was facing expiration as of September 30.

The Coalition for Fairness in Mental Illness Coverage called on Congress last month to make early passage of a comprehensive parity bill a top priority in 2003, according to an APA press release. APA is a member of the coalition, which strongly supports comprehensive parity. Other members are the American Managed Behavioral Healthcare Association, American Medical Association, American Psychological Association, Federation of American Hospitals, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems, and the National Mental Health Association.

“While we are grateful that Congress has passed the bill to ensure that current protections don’t lapse, a year-by-year extension of the limited 1996 parity law is not an adequate solution to the long-term problems of insurance discrimination against persons seeking treatment for mental illness,” the coalition stated.

“Sixty-seven senators, 243 representatives, 248 national organizations, and President George W. Bush have all expressed public support for a comprehensive national mental health nondiscrimination law. It is time for Congress to act.” ▪