A mental health parity bill introduced in the House in March takes a different approach than legislation approved by the Senate, possibly creating discord between the two houses of Congress.
Like the bill introduced in the Senate, the House bill requires group health plans to provide the same cost-sharing requirements for mental health services as they do for other physical medical conditions. However, the House bill would allow each state to set stricter standards than the provisions set forth in the Senate bill. Furthermore, the Senate bill would allow employers to decide which mental disorders they would cover. The House bill states that employers must provide coverage for the same range of mental disorders and illnesses covered by federal health care plans, giving citizens the same coverage as their Congressmen. Both bills would not require employers to offer employees mental health coverage, and employers with fewer than 50 employees would be exempt.
According to a 2004 survey by the American Psychological Association, 87 percent of Americans stated that a lack of insurance coverage was the leading factor dissuading them from seeking mental health services. The survey also stated that 85 percent of Americans believe that health insurance should cover mental health services.
