Objections stall vote on mental health parity bill

GOP senators raise concerns that the measure would increase insurance premiums and reduce federal revenue.

By Amy Snow Landa, AMNews staff. Oct. 22/29, 2001.

Washington -- Despite strong bipartisan support in the Senate for legislation that would expand the original mental health parity law, a handful of Republicans have been able to delay Senate consideration of the measure.

Sen. Judd Gregg (R, N.H.), Assistant Minority Leader Don Nickles (R, Okla.) and others raised objections in late September to scheduling a vote on the 2001 Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act. They cited concerns that the legislation would lead to higher health insurance premiums and reduce federal tax revenue.

Gregg, who is the ranking Republican on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, "very much wants to move forward on mental health parity, but he just feels right now that the plan as it stands would be entirely too costly," his spokesman said.

Still, the bill's supporters expect the Senate to vote on the measure before Congress recesses this year.

"This is still very much on the burner as far as an issue we want to see addressed before we recess," said a spokeswoman for Sen. Pete Domenici (R, N.M.), who wrote the bill with Sen. Paul Wellstone (D, Minn.).

The legislation would extend the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996, which expired Sept. 30, and expand it by bringing insurance coverage for mental health benefits into full parity with coverage provided for medical and surgical benefits.

The AMA, the American Psychiatric Assn. and other organizations representing the mental health community back the measure, which has 63 Senate co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle. [...]