Congress Approves Mental Health Bill

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By Lyndsey Layton

Washington Post Staff Writer

Reps. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.), left, and Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.) are co-sponsoring the House version of the parity measure. The remaining obstacle for the legislation is how to pay for it.

Congress approved legislation yesterday that would require private insurers to provide the same level of benefits for mental illness as they do for physical maladies, a change lauded by advocates as a great shift in the nation's understanding of mental health.

"We've always had a stigma, sort of like mental illness is a character flaw," said Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.), who has struggled with drug and alcohol addiction and co-sponsored the House version with Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.), a recovering alcoholic. "But now science has moved forward, and we can see the complexities in the brain that lead to eating disorders, compulsive disorders. All these connections are being made, the science is just becoming so firm. And it destroys the myth that this stuff is a choice."

The measure has received strong bipartisan support in the House and Senate and has the backing of business, insurance companies, health advocates, the medical community and the White House. But its passage into law was not ensured last night.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...8092302882.html

[kaydee457 13]

Wow, so there's hope for most of the rabid "libruls" here in this forum to get treatment....kool

BTW, in certain industries there's still a stigma attached to seeking help. Where government security clearances are required, particularly high level, there's an impact an stigma and you'll certainly loose your clearance or have it reduced to a lesser level.

You may not loose your job in the short term, but certainly your usefulness to the company will be diminished over time resulting in the loss eventually.

[Aubrey 10]

Health coverage or not, there is still a bias in society against those with a mental illness. The general perception is still that someone depressed is "just having a bad day," for example, and people don't get that a person can sometimes literally not function with the wrong medications, and that the medicine will never be effective 100% of the time. I only gained an understanding of it because of my ex-husband's struggle with misdiagnoses of his bi-polar disorder and the ensuing problems with his co-workers understanding his reactions to the various medications he had to try to find the appropriate one. (Psst: My tip: don't marry someone that has bi-polar. )

This health bill is a great thing, but the article is wrong that it "destroys the myth that this stuff is a choice." There's a lot further to go on educating the public before that happens.

The next health coverage mandate ought to be for universal general health care.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Yeah. I didn't mean or even want to lift that liquor bottle to my lips or pop those nasty pills.

It is not MY fault.

[csmith1216 1]

wow who would have thought! a Kennedy suffering from alcohol and drug use? I guess this would be a self help bill

[beejay 123]

By Lyndsey Layton

Washington Post Staff Writer

Reps. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.), left, and Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.) are co-sponsoring the House version of the parity measure. The remaining obstacle for the legislation is how to pay for it.

Congress approved legislation yesterday that would require private insurers to provide the same level of benefits for mental illness as they do for physical maladies, a change lauded by advocates as a great shift in the nation's understanding of mental health.

"We've always had a stigma, sort of like mental illness is a character flaw," said Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.), who has struggled with drug and alcohol addiction and co-sponsored the House version with Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.), a recovering alcoholic. "But now science has moved forward, and we can see the complexities in the brain that lead to eating disorders, compulsive disorders. All these connections are being made, the science is just becoming so firm. And it destroys the myth that this stuff is a choice."

The measure has received strong bipartisan support in the House and Senate and has the backing of business, insurance companies, health advocates, the medical community and the White House. But its passage into law was not ensured last night.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...8092302882.html

The mental health parity act was something started by Senator Domenici and Senator Paul Wellstone back in 1992. It's taken a long time to get this into action and it's just sad that Wellstone could not be around to see it. May he rest in peace.

"Don't park the bus"

[almaty 19]

sad and typical of some heartless f##ks here on vj...hopefully, yourself or someone you love will not suffer from mental illness...but, almost all families are touch sooner or later...

[HannahP 119]

The mental health parity act was something started by Senator Domenici and Senator Paul Wellstone back in 1992. It's taken a long time to get this into action and it's just sad that Wellstone could not be around to see it. May he rest in peace.

"Don't park the bus"

Here, here. RIP Wellstone.

Mental illness legislation is such a weird niche that it usually gets overlooked until it hits home. Domenici's daughter is schizophrenic. Kennedy's aunt suffered the effects of a botched lobotomy. I believe Ramstad was an alcoholic who successfully sought treatment & beat it.

When I was hospitalized for anorexia, my insurance allowed me an indefinite stay on a medical ward but only four weeks on an eating disorders unit. It was surreal. (And my insurance has pretty good mental health coverage.)

[Sister Fracas 5]

sad and typical of some heartless f##ks here on vj...hopefully, yourself or someone you love will not suffer from mental illness...but, almost all families are touch sooner or later...

Thank you for all you do in this arena my BFF.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

sad and typical of some heartless f##ks here on vj...hopefully, yourself or someone you love will not suffer from mental illness...but, almost all families are touch sooner or later...

Amen, brother.

[LoriLawless 0]

sad and typical of some heartless f##ks here on vj...hopefully, yourself or someone you love will not suffer from mental illness...but, almost all families are touch sooner or later...