[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 59 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 59

 Expressing the sense of Congress that any health care reform program 
    enacted by Congress should not discriminate in the treatment of 
        services relating to mental illness and substance abuse.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 4, 1993

  Ms. Norton submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of Congress that any health care reform program 
    enacted by Congress should not discriminate in the treatment of 
        services relating to mental illness and substance abuse.

Whereas mental illness and substance abuse disorders are prevalent throughout 
        our society;
Whereas approximately 19 percent of the adult population in the United States 
        suffers from a diagnosable mental illness or a substance abuse disorder 
        within any 6-month period;
Whereas approximately 12 percent of Americans under the age of 18, or 7,500,000 
        children and adolescents, suffer from some type of mental illness or 
        emotional disorder;
Whereas \4/5\ of children in need of mental health care do not receive services, 
        resulting in significant costs to society as these children become 
        adults;
Whereas approximately \1/3\ of homeless people suffer from a mental illness and 
        approximately 40 percent of homeless people suffer from a substance 
        abuse disorder;
Whereas there are more Americans with a serious mental illness in prisons and 
        street shelters than in hospitals;
Whereas the incidence of mental illness and mental health problems is very 
        costly both to the individual with a mental disorder and to society as a 
        whole;
Whereas American businesses lose over $100,000,000,000 per year due to lost 
        productivity of employees because of substance abuse and mental illness;
Whereas annual direct costs of treatment for mental illness and substance abuse 
        disorders are estimated at $68,000,000,000 and annual indirect costs due 
        to lost productivity, lost employment, vehicular accidents, criminal 
        activity, and social welfare programs are estimated to be approximately 
        $250,000,000,000;
Whereas significant progress has been made within the last 10 years in research 
        into the causes and treatments of mental illnesses, and many such 
        illnesses are now treatable;
Whereas significant numbers of persons with mental illness in the United States 
        find it difficult, if not impossible, to secure needed health care;
Whereas only approximately 20 percent of those in need of mental health services 
        actually receive them;
Whereas mental health care is treated differently from care for other health 
        conditions in both public and private financing systems;
Whereas 99 percent of insured individuals and their families have private health 
        coverage for some inpatient mental health treatment, but only 5 percent 
        have coverage that is equivalent to their coverage for other illnesses;
Whereas many private insurance programs continue to discriminate against 
        individuals who suffer from mental illness or substance abuse disorders;
Whereas discrimination against individuals who suffer from mental illness or 
        substance abuse disorders continues to exist in public insurance 
        programs, including the Medicare program, which imposes a 50 percent 
        copayment requirement for certain mental health care services but only a 
        20 percent copayment requirement for all other part B services;
Whereas businesses, consumers, and Federal and State governments are already 
        paying for mental health care for the uninsured and underinsured in an 
        inefficient and inequitable and often more costly manner; and
Whereas the present system is structured to delay treatment for mental illness 
        and substance addiction until a condition requires hospitalization, the 
        most expensive form of health care and one that adds needless billions 
        of dollars to health care costs each year: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that any health care reform program 
enacted by Congress should include provisions to prohibit 
discrimination in the provision of and payment for health care services 
against individuals who suffer from mental illness or substance abuse, 
including provisions--
            (1) prohibiting discrimination in the assessment of 
        coinsurance, deductibles, premiums, or policy limits relating 
        to mental health and substance abuse treatment services;
            (2) prohibiting discrimination in the application of 
        managed care methods, including utilization review and 
        preferred provider networks, and ensuring access to the 
        spectrum of providers available; and
            (3) providing as a general principle that any individual 
        who suffers from mental illness or substance abuse must receive 
        treatment comparable in quality and comprehensiveness and as 
        equally available as services received by an individual with a 
        physical illness or condition.

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