Urge Previous Parity Supporters to Cosponsor Parity Legislation In the 108^th Congress

Call Toll-Free 1-866-PARITY4 NOW!

February 11, 2002

THE ISSUE AT HAND

Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Representatives Jim Ramstad (R-MN) and Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) are introducing the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Parity Act of 2003.  The text of bill will be the same as last year’s broad-based parity bill (S. 543 as reported/H.R. 4066), which NASW strongly supported. 

ACTION NEEDED

Please call, FAX, or email U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives ask them to cosponsor the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Parity Act of 2003.

You may use 1-866-PARITY4 (1-866-727-4894); this toll-free number, established by the Coalition for Fairness in Mental Illness Coverage, will connect you to the U.S. Capitol Switchboard, where you can ask to be connected to the offices of your Senators and Representative. If you are not sure who your Representative is, the Capitol Switchboard can determine which one by your zip code. Once you've been connected to an office, be sure to ask to speak with the "Mental Health Legislative Assistant" and ask him/her if the Senator or Representative will cosponsor the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Parity Act of 2003.

Sample Script:

“I’m calling to urge the (Senator or Representative) to cosponsor the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Parity Act.  His/her cosponsorship is vital for passage of this legislation to ban insurance discrimination against people with mental disorders.”

Making a phone call in support of mental health parity is the most effective grassroots tool; however, you may visit NASW's Congress Web and send a letter on this issue to your Representative and Senators electronically.

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BACKGROUND

The Paul Wellstone Mental Health Parity Act of 2003 would expand upon the 1996 Mental Health Parity Act by providing full parity for all categories of mental health conditions listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), subject to medical necessity. Health insurance plans would be forbidden from applying different deductibles, co-payments, out-of-network charges, inpatient day and outpatient visit limits for mental health care than those for medical and surgical health care, if mental health benefits are offered. Like the 1996 Act, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Parity Act would not mandate that plans offer mental health benefits if they currently do not. Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees would be exempted.

For more information, please visit www.socialworkers.org or contact Francesca Fierro O'Reilly, NASW Government Relations, at fforeilly@naswdc.org.

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