[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H4164-H4165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    MENTAL ILLNESS PARITY SHOULD BE PART OF HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hutchinson). Under a previous order of 
the House, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Towns] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, each year mental health services are being 
provided to millions of our constituents, representing every age, 
ethnic and economic group in the country. Unlike many insurance 
policies, mental health illness does not discriminate among its 
victims. The illness could hit any one. And, without the proper 
treatment, leave an entire family scarred for life.
  Mental illness can be every bit as debilitating as other major 
medical illnesses including heart disease and cancer; like them, mental 
illness can be successfully treated, enabling patients to return to 
productive lives. It would be unconscionable to legislate limits on the 
scope and duration of treatment for cancer, heart disease or diabetes. 
Unfortunately, time after time, limits are placed on mental health 
services and it is wrong.
  For some strange reason there is a stigma placed on mental illness 
and I

[[Page H4165]]

believe this stigma is the root of ignorance. Mental illness is not due 
to some sinful behavior. The stigma has kept many individuals from 
seeking help, and it has prevented health professionals from providing 
needed services. It is my honest belief that if health plans provided 
parity in their mental health coverage the stigma would be 
instantaneously removed. No longer would patients be too embarrassed to 
seek help. And, no longer would providers be forced to turn patients 
away, and discriminate between illnesses.
  People with mental illness, severe and otherwise, are just as sick as 
the next person who is suffering from cancer. The idea of not being 
able to think and reason for yourself is as disabled as one can be. The 
only real and important difference between physical illnesses such as 
cancer, or heart disease is that mental illness is a disease of the 
brain, and it appears to be more complicated. This disease can manifest 
itself in our centers of thought, reason, and emotion and leave us 
totally dependent on someone to think for us.
  Individuals in need of health benefits for physical disabilities has 
come a long way. But mental health benefits are not at the same level, 
even though they serve an important population. These individuals are 
desperately in need of insurance reform. According to the American 
Psychological Association, overall national mental health costs are 
small--only 7 percent of the total health care spending. Insurance 
carriers have traditionally limited mental health benefits out of fear 
that parity of coverage would attract poor risks, increase their costs, 
and put them at a competitive disadvantage.
  During the 103d Congress I actively worked to pass universal health 
coverage and was pleased that the disparity of mental health benefits 
was brought to the forefront of that debate. Now in the 104th Congress, 
we have a real opportunity to do something about this disparity.
  I urge the conferees to allow the mental health community a chance to 
be on equal footing with other illnesses that are receiving benefits.

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