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

FEDERAL LEGISLATION IS SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARD
FULL MENTAL HEALTH PARITY, NAPHS SAYS
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Domenici/Wellstone Plan Means Increased Coverage
for Millions of American with Mental Illnesses

(Washington, D.C., April 14,1999)..... "Sens. Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Paul Wellstone (D-MN) have done Americans a great service today by introducing legislation that will move the nation much closer to equitable mental health coverage," 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 biologically-based severe mental illnesses affecting children and adults equal to that provided for other illnesses. In addition, the initiative would provide parity coverage for outpatient visits and inpatient days for all mental illnesses as well as make permanent the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996.

"This legislation not only will ensure that our most vulnerable citizens will have access to the same level of mental health coverage as for other physical illnesses," noted Mr. Covall, "but it moves us considerably closer to full parity for all mental disorders." Congress and the Clinton administration took the first significant step toward ending insurance discrimination by enacting legislation in 1996 that requires equal lifetime and annual limits for physical and mental illnesses. Today’s legislation closes many of the remaining gaps in what has historically been a two-tiered system of insurance coverage, with far more stringent benefit restrictions and limits imposed on coverage for mental disorders.

"It has been demonstrated over and over again that parity is affordable" said Covall. "For instance, 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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