[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 98 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 98

  Expressing the sense of Congress that equitable mental health care 
benefits must be included in any health care reform legislation passed 
                              by Congress.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 4, 1995

 Mr. Serrano submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
                 referred to the Committee on Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of Congress that equitable mental health care 
benefits must be included in any health care reform legislation passed 
                              by Congress.
Whereas mental illness and substance abuse disorders are prevalent throughout 
        our society;
Whereas approximately over 50,000,000 adults in the United States have a 
        diagnosable mental illness or a substance abuse disorder on an annual 
        basis;
Whereas mental illness and substance abuse disorders can strike at any point 
        during a person's lifetime;
Whereas more than 12 percent of Americans under the age of 18, or approximately 
        7,500,000 children and adolescents, have 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 have a mental illness and 
        approximately 40 percent of homeless people have 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 mental illness and substance abuse disorders are devastating to the 
        lives of those afflicted, as there exists a direct and close 
        relationship between mental health and overall well-being;
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 combined direct and indirect costs of treatment of mental illness and 
        substance abuse disorders are estimated at $314,000,000,000 annually, 
        direct costs being the cost of treatment and indirect costs being lost 
        productivity, lost employment, vehicular accidents, criminal activity, 
        and social welfare programs;
Whereas significant progress has been made within the last 12 years in research 
        into the causes and treatments of mental illnesses, and many such 
        illnesses are now treatable;
Whereas nearly 85 percent of persons with depression respond positively to 
        antidepressant medication, modern electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or 
        psychotherapy, either alone or in combination;
Whereas pharmacologic intervention for schizophrenia and bipolar disorders, 
        coupled with appropriate rehabilitative services, can dramatically 
        reduce the rehospitalization rate for those afflicted with these 
        disorders, improving the ability of such individuals to live 
        productively in the community;
Whereas the success rate for the treatment of panic disorders is 80 percent;
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 30 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 20 percent 
        have coverage that is equivalent to their coverage for other illnesses, 
        and only 4-8 percent of plans have coverage for outpatient care that is 
        equivalent to their coverage for other illnesses;
Whereas many private insurance programs continue to discriminate against 
        individuals with mental illness or substance abuse disorders;
Whereas, although recent changes have improved the treatment of individuals with 
        mental disorders under public insurance programs, such programs continue 
        to discriminate against these individuals, as evidenced by the fact that 
        the Medicare program has a 50 percent copayment requirement for mental 
        health care services but only a 20 percent copayment requirement for all 
        other services; and
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 manner, resulting in much unnecessary pain 
        and suffering for those afflicted with mental disorders as well as for 
        their families: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that any legislation enacted to reform 
the health care delivery system of the United States must ensure that 
every person has access to coverage for medically and psychologically 
necessary treatments for mental disorders that is equitable to the 
coverage provided for treatments for physical illnesses, and should 
contain the following provisions:
            (1) Provisions providing for coverage of a broad array of 
        mental health and rehabilitation services for individuals of 
        all ages.
            (2) Provisions guaranteeing that mental health services 
        will be available based on medical or psychological necessity, 
        including provisions prohibiting discrimination through the 
        imposition of arbitrary barriers to mental health services.
            (3) Provisions to ensure that services are based on 
        individual need and informed choice, with consumer 
        participation in treatment decisions.
            (4) Provisions providing financial protection for 
        individuals and their families with mental health needs to 
        prevent these individuals and families from spending a 
        disproportionate share of their income and resources to obtain 
        services.
            (5) Financing policies that guide service delivery to the 
        lowest cost settings consistent with appropriate care, 
        including provisions ensuring that any managed care techniques 
        used limit financial conflicts of interest and promote real 
        efficiencies while protecting the patient's right to quality 
        care, access to necessary care, and confidentiality.
            (6) Provisions to ensure that mental health services will 
        be coordinated effectively with existing systems and programs 
        of medical, income, residential, and social support at the 
        Federal, State, and local levels.
                                 <all>