Capps Welcomes Progress On Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act

Press Release

Capps Welcomes Progress On Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA) welcomed important progress on the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act, H.R. 1424, as the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health marked up the bill. The next step will be a full Energy and Commerce Committee mark-up of the legislation and then consideration of the bill on the House floor. This much needed legislation would address the disparity in treatment that exists between mental health conditions and other health conditions.

"This day is a long time coming for those of us who are committed to securing equitable treatment for patients afflicted by mental health and addiction conditions," said Capps, a registered nurse. "For patients, their families, and health care providers this is an important step towards ending the disparity in treatment that hinders access to life-saving mental health care. It is my hope that by ending this disparity in treatment for those with mental health conditions we will also bring about an end to the stigima and discrimination that also plagues these patients."

A copy of Congresswoman Capps' Statement follows:

Subcommittee Mark-up of HR 1424
Paul Wellstone Mental Health & Addiction Equity Act

Thank you, Chairman Pallone, for holding this mark-up.

I am proud to be one of the 272 cosponsors of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007. And I will be even prouder when it is passed by Congress and signed into law.

Today we are taking a step closer to achieving this goal. Quite frankly, when I was first elected to Congress, I wasn't sure I would see this day.

At the heart of this bill is the fact that there exists an unreasonable difference in the way we treat mental health conditions as opposed to all other health conditions. To a health professional - and there are a few of us on this subcommittee - there should be no distinction in the necessity of treating heart disease, bone disease, or mental health disease. They are all equally vital to our bodies' functioning. And it is sad that there has existed such a distinction because of stigma and misunderstanding. But H.R. 1424 will begin breaking down barriers for accessing life-saving mental health treatment.

And I say that because, as we have heard from witnesses during our hearing, mental health conditions can indeed be just as life-threatening as other health conditions. We must put an end to the discrimination being practiced by insurers when they offer coverage for some health conditions and not others. I know that some people today might refer to the Senate compromise on mental health parity. But quite frankly, I don't feel it goes far enough.

I strongly support passage of the language in HR 1424, which our dedicated colleagues and champions for mental health, Patrick Kennedy and Jim Ramstad, have worked so hard to perfect. Many employees aren't as fortunate as Members of Congress and our staff, who have access to Federal health benefits. Many employees often don't have a choice in which insurance plan they may access. So when someone gets a job and is offered health insurance, they pretty much have to take what the company has chosen for them. And it's not fair to say "well, we'll cover some of your health care but we'll pick and choose which parts of your body to cover."

I think it's bad for business.

And I know it's bad health care.

I look forward to our work here today and encourage my colleagues in joining me to support this excellent bill.

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