What is mental health parity, and why does it matter?
Parity is defined as “equality, as in amount, status, or value.” Advocates of mental health parity demand that health insurance policies be required to provide an equitable scope of services for mental health needs as for other medical and surgical needs. Currently, this parity is being sought via the Sen. Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act (H.R.953/S.486). (The latter bill was reintroduced in the Senate in November 2003 as S.1832 by Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-South Dakota) due to concerns regarding mark-up of the original legislation; both bills will be considered in the next Congressional session.) Click Overview to learn more about the proposed legislation – or read the text of the originially proposed legislation first below: Click here to read the text H.R.953, the proposed legislation in the House of Representatives Click here to read the text of S.486, the proposed legislation in the Senate, revised for consideration Click here to read the text of S.
