Field Hearings: The Campaign to Insure Mental Health and Addiction Equity
Background: As has been widely reported, Congressmen Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN) have launched a nationwide campaign, conducting hearings (technically, forums) in major cities across the country. As described by the Members, The Campaign to Insure Mental Health and Addiction Equity will hear testimony from ordinary American citizens whose lives have been touched by mental illness and addiction. Affiliates of Mental Health America and the National Alliance on Mental Illness are helping organize these forums. The testimony will undoubtedly help advance the case for enactment of a comprehensive law to end insurance discrimination against those who need mental health and addiction treatment. The Congressmen expect to introduce legislation aimed at ensuring that health plans offer fair coverage for mental health and addiction care. Importantly, the new House Leaders have promised Congressmen Kennedy and Ramstad that they will bring their bill, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act, up for a vote.
Schedule status: The scheduling of these forums is still unfolding. With the understanding that the dates and locations of these forums are still fluid, and subject to change), the information below is being provided to assist in establishing linkages between those who are helping organize the hearings and local consumers, families, providers, advocacy groups, and others. For the latest updates on confirmed hearings and locations please check the Campaign website, www.equitycampaign.net. (We will also attempt to update this list to reflect revisions in scheduling and additional information on points of contact.)
Local coordination and witnesses: It is hoped that disseminating this information widely to interested parties will help make each of these hearings a powerful and well-attended event. Both elements are critical. Those organizing the hearings will welcome help, particularly in identifying people whose experience and testimony regarding insurance discrimination can put a “human face” on the need for insurance equity. (While many encounter problems with insurance claims, the focus of these hearings is principally on the widespread practice in employer-provided health plans of imposing (1) arbitrary limits on the number of covered outpatient visits or days of hospitalization for treatment of mental health or substance-use disorders, and (2) greater cost-sharing burdens than are imposed on care of other health problems.) For those receiving this information in communities where hearings are taking place, please support this effort by urging local affiliates, organizations, colleagues, and friends to help the Congressmen by “filling the hearing room” to support their extraordinary effort. Please understand that time constraints will almost certainly limit the number of witnesses who can participate. Recommendations regarding proposed witnesses should be directed to the pertinent affiliate contact below, and it is strongly suggested that any recommendation be accompanied by a capsule outlining what the proposed speaker would say (to assist in identifying the most powerful testimony possible).
Feb. 10th 9 a.m. - 12 (confirmed)
Cerritos College Student Center
Cerritos, California
Rep. Napolitano
Point of Contact: Julia Scalise, jscalise@mhala.org; Chad Costello, ccostello@mhala.org; NMHA of Greater LA
Feb. 17th 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. (confirmed)
Washington State University (Vancouver Campus)
Student Services Building Lecture Hall, Room 110
14204 NE Salmon Creek Avenue
Vancouver, WA
Host: Rep. Baird
Point of Contact: Mary Kay Baransky, NAMI Clark County, WA; marbar@nami_clark.com, 360-695-2823
Feb. 20th – 10 a.m. (confirmed);
UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute
Sacramento, Cal.
Host: Rep. Matsui
Point of Contact: Marilyn Hillerman, (916) 875-5644; MHA in Sacramento; marilynhillerman@yahoo.com
Feb 21st a.m.
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors’ chambers
Palo Alto
Host: Rep. Eshoo
Point of Contact: NAMI San Mateo, 650-638-0800
Feb. 22nd – 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (confirmed)
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center Fitzsimmons Campus
Ben Nighthorse Campbell Native Health Bldg Auditorium
13001 E. 17th Place
Aurora, CO
Host: Rep. Perlmutter
Point of Contact: Chris Habgood, MHA of Colorado, chabgood@mhacolorado.org, 720-208-2224
Feb. 26th (confirmed) 10 a.m.
The State House
Trenton, NJ
Host: Rep. Pallone
Points of Contact: Marie Verna, MHA of New Jersey, mverna@mhanj.org,
Colleen Maguire, MHA of Monmouth County, colleen.m@verizon.net, 732-542-6422 x 15, Fax 732-389-3163
Feb. 27 (confirmed) 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Philadelphia metro area (location TBD)
Host: Rep. Sestak
Point of contact: MHA of Southeast Pennsylvania
March 2nd (cancelled, attempting to reschedule)
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Point of Contact: Marie Chapman, NAMI Dearborn, MI; 313-563-1245
March 12th (confirmed)
Pittsburgh (location TBD)
Host: Rep. Murphy
Point of Contact: Rachel Freund, MHA of Allegheny County; rfreund@mhaac.net, 412-391-3820 ext. 16
March 16th (confirmed)
New York City, NY (location and time, TBD)
Host: Rep. Rangel
Point of Contact: Wendy Brennan, NAMI NYC, wbrennan@naminyc.org, 212-684-3365
March 30th morning (confirmed)
Tulsa, Oklahoma (location TBD)
Host: Rep. Sullivan
Point of Contact: Stacy Wilson, MHA in Tulsa, swilson@mhat.org; 918-382-2407
March 30th 3 pm (confirmed)
Dallas
Point of Contact: Janie Metzinger, Mental Health America of Greater Dallas, jmetzinger@mhadallas.org, 214-871-2420 x114
March 31st (under consideration)
Houston
Point of Contact: Melissa Mitchell, MHA of Greater Houston mmitchell@mhahouston.org
OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO MENTAL HEALTH PARITY FORUMS SPEAKS TO DEMAND FOR BILL
Vancouver, WA Next Stop on West Coast Swing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2007
CONTACT: Robin Costello (401) 729-5600
WASHINGTON - Congressmen Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN) are increasing the number of mental health parity forums they are conducting across the country due to an overwhelming response from consumers, lawmakers and health care advocates. Last month, the Congressmen kicked off the "Campaign to Insure Mental Health and Addiction Equity" to discuss the need for a federal mental health parity bill that grants access to addiction and mental health treatment. To date, forums have been held in Rhode Island, Minnesota, Maryland and California with additional forums scheduled into March.
"I have been moved and overwhelmed by the turnout everywhere we go as we discuss mental health parity with different communities across our country," said Congressman Patrick Kennedy. "It's one thing to know you have support from all directions, but to hear it and feel it from members of the public has been incredibly powerful. Mental illness and addiction in some way touches every American family. We know that to be true and the public is demanding some answers when it comes to access to treatment. This bill is a critical, first step."
The Congressmen are preparing to reintroduce federal legislation in March aimed at ensuring that health plans offer fair coverage for mental health care. The bill, called the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act after the late Senator who championed the cause, is gaining momentum and is expected to receive the full support of House Leaders.
"We are closing in on our goal to pass the most responsible and comprehensive federal parity bill possible," said Congressman Jim Ramstad. "Our conversations with fellow Americans across the country have been extremely beneficial in crafting a bill that offers solutions in addressing one of the most pressing public health issues of our time. Congress must hear their call and pass the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act."
The bill expands the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 by requiring group health plans that offer benefits for mental health and addiction to do so on the same terms as care for other diseases. The legislation closes the loopholes that allow plans to charge higher copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, and maximum out-of-pocket limits and impose lower day and visit limits on mental health addiction care.
Additional forums are being organized across the country by Mental Health America (formerly the National Mental Health Association) and the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI). The next forum will be held in Vancouver, Washington, February 17, 2007 at Washington State University - Vancouver, Student Services Building, Room 110. The event is slated to begin at 1p.m., following a brief meeting with members of the media.
"The issue of mental health equity is something I've been working on since coming to Congress," said Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA). "As a clinical psychologist, it is clear to me that the need for mental health equity is unquestionable. Everyone has a family member, friend or co-worker who has been affected by mental illness. We know that treatment is effective and it can improve people's lives. And, we know that it's cost effective from an economic standpoint. I am honored to be part of this discussion and look forward to hearing how we can change the way people receive mental health care treatment in this country."
Campaign to Insure Mental Health and Addiction Equity confirmed dates:
Jan. 16 Providence, RI District of Rep. Patrick Kennedy
Jan. 22 Minneapolis, MN District of Rep. Jim Ramstad
Jan 29 Rockville, MD District of Rep. Chris Van Hollen
Feb. 10 Los Angeles, CA District of Rep. Grace Napolitano
Feb. 17 Vancouver, WA District of Rep. Brian Baird
Feb. 20 Sacramento, CA District of Rep. Doris Matsui
Feb. 21 Palo Alto, CA District of Rep. Anna Eshoo
Feb. 22 Denver, CO District of Rep. Ed Perlmutter
Feb. 26 Trenton, NJ District of Rep. Frank Pallone
Feb. 27 Philadelphia, PA District of Rep. Joe Sestak
Mar. 12 Pittsburgh, PA District of Rep. Tim Murphy
Mar. 16 New York, NY District of Rep. Charles Rangel
Mar. 30 (am) Tulsa, OK District of Rep. John Sullivan
Mar. 30 (pm) Dallas, TX District of Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson
Background on Legislation:
According to the Government Accountability Office, nearly 90 percent of plans impose such financial limitations and treatment restrictions on mental health and addiction care despite voluminous scientific research documenting the biological, genetic, and chemical nature of these diseases, and the effectiveness of treatment. The bill applies to group health plans of 50 or more people.
The legislation is modeled after the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program, which covers Members of Congress and other federal workers and dependents and which implemented parity in 2001. According to an exhaustive study published earlier this year by the Department of Health and Human Services, the federal employees' parity policy was implemented with "little or no increase in total MH/SA [mental health/substance abuse] spending".
A majority of respondents to a National Mental Health Association survey indicated that they would support parity legislation even if it meant a $1 per month increase to their premiums. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that such legislation will increase health care costs by far less than that amount.
