The US House
of Representatives and US Senate may be getting closer to a compromise on
the terms of legislation to provide parity in insurance coverage for addiction
and mental health treatment. While legislation to provide parity for addiction
and mental health treatment has passed in both chambers, differences between
the two bills – the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity
Act (HR 1424) and the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 (S 558)
– have stalled further progress. Among the major differences between
the two bills is a provision in S 558 that would allow insurers to determine
which conditions the parity provisions covered, while HR 1424 would extend
parity to all conditions listed in the DSM-IV-TR. PCPA prefers HB 1424 over
S 558 because it offers stronger protections to state laws already in place,
but supports both pieces of legislation.
The Senate made a formal compromise offer to the House in the hopes of reaching
agreement on a bill in what is left of the 110th Congress. The compromise
offer was neither the House or Senate version, but a new bill that includes
provisions from both. There has been no formal response from the House on
the compromise offer; House and Senate staffs continue to work on negotiations.
PCPA will keep members informed as negotiations continue. Questions may be
directed to Anne McHugh Leisure.
