H.R.6983 - Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 Sponsor: Patrick Kennedy / 110th Congress

Title
110th Congress - To amend section 712 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, section 2705 of the Public Health Service Act, and section 9812 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require equity in the provision of mental health and substance-related disorder benefits under group health plans, and for other purposes. hidemore...
Summary
To amend section 712 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, section 2705 of the Public Health Service Act, and section 9812 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require equity in the provision of mental health and substance-related disorder benefits under group health plans, and for other purposes. (by CRS)
Status
The bill was voted on in the House on September 23, 2008

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Analysis of H.R. 6983 (110th) by Jamal Khan, Oct 1, 2008 (6:48pm)

This bill prevents insurers and group health plans from restricting or imposing additional costs on mental health benefits relative to general and surgical health services, thus explaining the title “mental health parity.” The Congressional Budget Office has calculated that the effects of this requirement on health care premiums will be minor. However, the bill does not mandate insurers or group health plans to offer any mental health coverage, and its provisions only apply to those who do. Persons who are under plans without mental health coverage will not receive anything from this bill. In addition, provisions are made to exempt small companies, as well as companies with high premium rate increases. In short, it is a good bill overall, but it looks as if it has been watered down. Furthermore, because it does not mandate mental health coverage in all plans, it may ironically reduce the number of plans that offer such coverage at all.

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