Parity Passes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello everyone ---I am so excited to share this news with you ---Parity passes!!! (overriding a veto by President Bush, nonetheless)

EDC News Alert: Medicare Bill with Mental Health Parity Becomes Law! HR.6331, The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, passed last week after Congress had enough votes to override president Bush’s veto.

The Senate voted to override the President 70-26 and the House vote was 383-41. This
important bill includes a provision to provide for mental health parity for outpatient services in Medicare.

The bill makes long overdue improvements to Medicare by providing improved access to preventive services and parity in coverage for mental health services. It will also help more people with Medicare living below or just above the poverty level ($867 per month for an individual) get help with their drug costs and medical bills.

Also this bill will give doctors a modest pay raise instead of the drastic 10 percent Medicare pay cut that will take effect if Congress does not act. A pay cut could make more doctors reluctant to take on new Medicare patients and make it harder for older adults and people with disabilities to get the care they need. Additionally, HR.6331 will restrict the ability of insurance companies to use hard sell tactics for Medicare private health plans or to market plans without ensuring plan enrollees will have adequate access to doctors, specialists, local hospitals and other providers. It is these provisions—the ones that help people with Medicare and force insurance companies to change their practices—that prompted a veto threat from the Bush administration.

Mental health parity has been a public policy priority for the EDC for years. We are thrilled that our advocacy is paying off and that there will be parity in Medicare. America's senior citizens and those with disabilities should not have to pay more out of pocket for mental health services than for physical health services.