[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 94 (Friday, June 9, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     INTRODUCTION OF THE EQUITABLE HEALTH CARE FOR NEUROBIOLOGICAL 
                         DISORDERS ACT OF 1995

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                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 1995
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Equitable 
Health Care for Neurological Disorders Act of 1995. I want to thank my 
colleagues, Representatives McHale, Ward, and Gejdenson, for joining me 
as original cosponsors.
  I am proud once again to introduce this important measure that would 
make such a dramatic difference in the lives of people afflicted with 
neurobiolgical disorders. This year, I am especially honored to be 
reintroducing the bill in memory of my dear friend, Enid Peschel. Enid 
was a pioneer in the emerging study of neurobiological disorders and 
the inspiration behind my decision to introduce this bill. It is my 
hope that her dream of seeing this legislation become law will be 
realized in this session of Congress.
  As an active participant in the fight for health care reform, I 
continue to believe that health care reform is a goal that we must 
continue to work toward. All Americans should have the security of 
knowing that they will have health care coverage--regardless of their 
health or economic status.
  Perhaps no group of individuals has faced more discrimination by our 
Nation's health care system than those with severe mental illnesses. In 
the past 15 years, a revolution has occurred in neurobiology that has 
clearly documented that many of these severe mental illnesses are, in 
fact, physical illnesses. These physical disorders of the brain--
neurobiological disorders--are characterized by neuroanatomical and 
neurochemical abnormalities. Controlled clinical research undertaken by 
scientists across the Nation have produced a body of irrefutable 
scientific evidence documenting the physical nature of these disorders.
  Despite this, individuals with neurobiological disorders and their 
families continue to face discrimination and stigmatization by health 
insurance plans and society at large. I have visited with families who 
have had to cope not only with the emotional pain of dealing with 
neurobiological disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism, but the 
financial hardship as well.
  Health insurance coverage for mental disorders is often limited to 30 
to 60 inpatient days per year, compared with 120 days for physical 
illnesses; copayments, which are usually about 20 percent for physical 
illnesses, are often raised to 50 percent. Because of these arbitrary 
limits on coverage, individuals and families affected by these 
disorders are faced
 with onerous financial burdens. These people deserve the same kind of 
care and treatment that is available to those who suffer from other 
severe illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, or heart disease.

  Families who are faced with severe mental illnesses should not be 
placed in a different category--financially burdened, stigmatized, and 
treated as if they had done something wrong.
  My bill would help these individuals and their families by requiring 
nondiscriminatory treatment of neurobiological disorders. Health care 
plans would be required to provide coverage that is not more 
restrictive than coverage provided for other major physical illnesses 
and that is consistent with effective and common methods of controlling 
health care costs--such as copayments and deductibles. My bill also 
stipulates specific benefits that must be provided and assesses a 
penalty on those plans that do not comply with the act's requirements.
  Requiring equal health coverage of these disorders is not just 
important to individuals suffering from neurobiological disorders and 
their families. It is also important to the Nation. According to the 
National Institutes of Mental Health, equitable insurance coverage for 
severe mental disorders will yield $2.2 billion in net savings each 
year through decreased use of general medical services and a 
substantial decrease in social costs.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting passage of this 
important legislation. Adoption of this policy would go a long way 
toward saving billions of dollars in wasteful spending, eliminating the 
stigmatism and misunderstanding so often associated with 
neurobiological disorders, and most importantly, ensuring that all 
those suffering from these devastating illnesses are adequately cared 
for.


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