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CQ WEEKLY – WEEKLY REPORT By Drew Armstrong, CQ Staff The Ways and Means Committee approved mental health parity legislation last week, moving the House one step closer to floor consideration. Sponsored by Patrick J. Kennedy, D-R.I., the measure (HR 1424) was approved, 27-13, on Sept. 26. It would require most health insurance plans to provide mental health benefits equal in amount and scope to the standard medical and surgical benefits in those plans. The bill's last stop before floor consideration will be the Energy and Commerce Committee. The Education and Labor Committee approved the measure in July. Republicans replayed their earlier Ways and Means Health Subcommittee strategy, offering amendments to make the bill mirror a companion Senate measure (S 558) sponsored by Republican Pete V. Domenici of New Mexico. None were adopted. One proposal by Sam Johnson, R-Texas, would have pushed back the effective date of the new regulations by more than a year to give insurers and businesses more time to adjust to them, but it was withdrawn. Senate bill language, expected to be adopted in conference, would have a similar effect. Even the one GOP amendment considered friendly by Democrats was withdrawn. A bid by Jerry Weller, R-Ill., would have added the name of Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-Minn., to the title of the bill, which is named after the late Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn. (1991-2002). Wellstone, who was killed in a 2002 plane crash, was an advocate for mental health parity during his time in the Senate. Ramstad has been the bill’s major GOP advocate in the House, but he asked Weller to withdraw his amendment. Weller eventually agreed to Ramstad’s request. The Senate bill has the support of health insurers and industry, but Kennedy and other House members have forged ahead with their legislation, saying it provides more protections for mental health patients. “I think the stronger bill is what’s needed because of the cycle of discrimination that’s existed,” said Pete Stark, D-Calif. Source: CQ Weekly
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