Addiction Parity Signed into Law by President
Oct 4th, 2008 • Category: NewsCADCA APPLAUDS PRESIDENT FOR SIGNING HISTORIC
ADDICTION & MENTAL HEALTH PARITY LEGISLATION INTO LAW
Law requires health plans to provide same benefits for substance abuse disorders Washington, D.C. – Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) commends the President for signing the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, which will improve access to lifesaving addiction and mental health treatment by eliminating the discriminatory barriers that have kept thousands of Americans with substance use and mental health disorders from receiving the care they need, into law. The measure was included in the economic recovery bill, which was approved earlier today by the U.S. House of Representatives. The same package was approved by the U.S. Senate on October 1.
CADCA has collaborated with a number of national coalitions and organizations to help pass addiction and mental health parity legislation for more than a decade. This new legislation will end health insurance benefits inequity between addiction/mental health illnesses and medical/surgical benefits for group health plans with more than 50 employees. When the law is enacted, 113 million people across the country will have the right to non-discriminatory substance abuse and mental health coverage.
“This is a historic day for families in America . All of us have been touched in some way by addiction or mental illnesses, whether through a family member or a friend. This historic legislation ensures that those suffering from addiction or mental illness can receive the same type of health coverage that others with a physical disease receive,” said Gen. Arthur T. Dean, CADCA Chairman and CEO.
Under the bill, health insurance plans sponsored by businesses with more than 50 employees will be prohibited from imposing day and visit limits or applying different deductibles, co-pays, and out-of-network charges. The legislation would protect state laws that provide greater protection than the federal law, extend out-of-network coverage for substance use disorders and mental illness where there is out-of-network coverage for medical and surgical conditions, and require that medical necessity criteria and reasons for any denials of reimbursement be available to participants and beneficiaries upon request. The lead sponsors of the bill in the House were Representatives Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN). In the Senate, the bill was championed by Senators Domenici (R-NM) and Senator Kennedy (D-MA).
# # # About CADCA
CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America), is the national membership organization representing
coalitions working to make America ’s communities safe, healthy and drug-free.
CADCA’s mission is to build and strengthen the capacity of community coalitions by providing technical assistance and training, public policy advocacy, media strategies and marketing programs, conferences, and special events.
For more information about CADCA, visit www.cadca.org
! Cheers, Jane