Parity is Law
Justice for Americans
The passage of the Paul Wellstone
and Pete Domenici Mental
Health Parity and Addiction Equity
Act of 2008 is a historic victory for
Mental Health America and millions
of Americans who have been denied
treatment because of health insurance
discrimination.
The measure, which was signed into
law on October 3, will for the first time
require equal insurance coverage for
mental health conditions and physical
illnesses. It will apply to more than
one-third of all Americans.
“The approval of parity is a great civil
rights victory that delivers justice to
millions of Americans who have mental
health conditions,” said David Shern,
Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental
Health America. “With approval of this
bill, we tear down the walls of stigma
and discrimination and open the doors
to the power and promise of treatment
and recovery.”
Mental Health America helped plant
the seeds of parity in the 1970s and
nourished its progress, marshalling
resources and grassroots support and
giving power to the ideas that put it
front and center on the national agenda.
The passage of parity is another step
forward in removing and eliminating
artificial and unfair barriers to access,
continuing the progress made when the
Americans with Disabilities Act was
passed and the recent Medicare legislation
that reduces the unfair co-payment
for mental health services in that program.
The new law recognizes that mental
health is integral to our overall health
and that mental health and substance
use conditions are just as treatable as
other medical conditions.
“Now we as a nation must build on this
effort by approaching mental health
with the same urgency as other health
conditions,” said Dr. Shern.
For more information on the legislation,
please visit the parity section of
Mental Health America’s website.
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The e-Bell Newsletter is published by the Mental Health America, which
works with its 320 affiliates nationwide to promote health, prevent mental
disorders and achieve victory over illnesses through advocacy, education, research
and service. To receive the e-Bell, visit Mental
Health America’s
Web site www.mentalhealthamerica.net or
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