CONTACT: Carole Szpak	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
202/393-6700, Ext.18

NEW LEGISLATION WILL PROVIDE EQUITABLE MENTAL HEALTH COVERAGE, NAPHS SAYS
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Behavioral Health Providers Applaud Plan
to End Discrimination in Insurance Coverage for Behavioral Health

(Washington, D.C., April 14,1999)..... "Legislation introduced today by Rep. Marge Roukema (R-NJ) and her colleagues will help to ensure that Americans have broad access to treatment for mental health and substance abuse disorders," said Mark J. Covall, executive director of the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems (NAPHS). He made the comments upon release of a proposal that would provide coverage for mental and addictive disorders on a par with other illnesses. Reps. Robert Wise (D-WV) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR) joined Rep. Roukema in introducing this important bill.

"Parity legislation has broad appeal among both Democrats and Republicans," noted Mr. Covall. "Congress and the Clinton administration intended to help end discriminatory insurance practices through enactment of legislation in 1996 requiring equal lifetime and annual limits for physical and mental illnesses. Today’s legislation closes the remaining gaps in those discriminatory practices by recognizing the needs of individuals and families who struggle with mental illnesses."

"Parity in insurance coverage is not only good public policy, it is affordable, too," said Covall. "A 1998 report issued by the National Advisory Mental Health Council concludes that full parity will increase health costs less than one percent a year under managed care."

The National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems (NAPHS) represents behavioral healthcare systems that are committed to the delivery of responsive, accountable, and clinically effective treatment and prevention programs for children, adolescents, and adults with mental and substance use disorders. NAPHS members are behavioral healthcare provider organizations, including 400 specialty hospitals, general hospital psychiatric and addiction treatment units, residential treatment centers, youth services organizations, partial hospital services, behavioral group practices, and other providers of care.

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