[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 670 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 670

    Recognizing the tenth anniversary of the enactment of the Paul 
 Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity 
                              Act of 2008.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 9, 2018

 Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Mr. Cassidy, Ms. Smith, Mr. Roberts, Mr. 
   Murphy, Mr. Carper, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. 
    Menendez, Mr. Cardin, and Ms. Collins) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 
                          Labor, and Pensions

                            October 10, 2018

             Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Recognizing the tenth anniversary of the enactment of the Paul 
 Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity 
                              Act of 2008.

Whereas, on October 3, 2008, the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health 
        Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (subtitle B of title V of Public 
        Law 110-343) (referred to in this preamble as the ``MHPAEA'') was signed 
        into law;
Whereas the MHPAEA ensures that employer-based group health plans and group and 
        individual health insurance issuers that provide mental health or 
        substance use disorder coverage do not impose less favorable limitations 
        on mental health or substance abuse use disorder benefits than on 
        medical or surgical benefits;
Whereas parity protections have been found to decrease out-of-pocket costs for 
        mental health and substance use disorder services;
Whereas, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
        Administration, in 2017, 18,200,000 individuals in the United States 
        ages 12 and older needed substance use treatment but did not receive 
        specialty treatment in the past year;
Whereas, in the United States in 2017, an estimated 2 out of 5 adults with any 
        mental illness and \1/2\ of adults with serious mental illness who had 
        unmet needs for mental health services did not receive treatment because 
        those individuals could not afford the cost of care; and
Whereas parity in insurance coverage for behavioral health services consistent 
        with the requirements of the MHPAEA can provide access to life-saving 
        treatment and services: Now, therefore be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) commemorates October 3, 2018, as the tenth anniversary 
        of the enactment of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental 
        Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (subtitle B of 
        title V of Public Law 110-343);
            (2) declares access to behavioral health services a 
        priority; and
            (3) supports enforcement of the Paul Wellstone and Pete 
        Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 
        to protect individuals in the United States who are in need of 
        access to insurance coverage for behavioral health services.
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