Dear Readers,

The holidays came early for us this year, with the landmark passage of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (H.R. 6983)!

I must admit to being skeptical about parity legislation making it through the system this year, with Congress and the whole nation being so focused on the Presidential election, not to mention our economic conundrum. Never would I have imagined that this groundbreaking piece of legislation would finally make its way to the President’s desk as part of what is, perhaps, the most contentious piece of legislation in history.

This was a nail biter right down to the finish, with several failed attempts over the past 12 years to get the long-stalled bill on the President’s desk. The addiction and mental health parity act was just one of many measures added to the hugely controversial bailout bill after it failed to pass the House. After passage by the Senate, the bailout bill went back before the House, where Rep. Ramstad, who had voted against the initial version of the rescue package, changed his vote in support of the bill.

“There’s too much at stake to let the legislation fail,” said Ramstad. “The revised bill is a recovery bill for the economy and a recovery bill for millions of Americans suffering the ravages of mental illness and addiction.”

The Oct. 3 vote on the historic bailout package was 263 to 171. Later that day, H.R. 6983 became law.

With the passage of H.R. 6983, which actually will take effect one year from the signing date, millions of individuals and families who have suffered through the pain of mental illness and addiction will finally receive the coverage to which they are entitled under the $700 million rescue package. This legislation requires insurance plans to afford the same coverage to mental health and addictive disorders that it does for medical/surgical coverage, and thus, represents a significant step toward ending discrimination against people who suffer from these disorders. Specifically, business-sponsored group health plans that include more than 50 people are prevented from imposing limits on inpatient days or outpatient visits, and from requiring higher deductibles or cost-sharing for mental illness or addiction treatment.

I know that many of you share my gratitude for the tireless work of our leaders in Congress — especially Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) and Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), chief sponsors in the House, and Senate sponsors Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) — for keeping the bill at the forefront in an election year that is rife with so many critical issues.

Wellstone Action co-founder David Wellstone, who is the son of the late Paul Wellstone, who championed the legislation that bears his name, had this to say about the bill that is part of his father’s legacy: “This bill is a major achievement, one I know my dad would be proud of. This bill will go a long way to ease the pain and suffering of those with mental illness and addiction, and I am proud to have been part of this effort.”

Rep. Patrick Kennedy echoed this sentiment in a press release following the passage of the parity bill. “This legislation is one more step in the long civil rights struggle to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to reach their potential,” he said. “For far too long, health insurance companies have used the stigma of mental health and substance abuse as an excuse to deny coverage for those biological disorders. That ends today when this critical legislation outlaws the discrimination that is embedded in our laws and our policies.”

As always, I welcome your feedback on this and other important policies that are shaping the addiction treatment field. Please contact me anytime at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to let me know what’s on your mind.
On behalf of everyone here at Counselor Magazine and Health Communications, Inc., I hope that you and your loved ones enjoy a peaceful and happy holiday season, and that the New Year brings you much health and happiness.

Sincerely,

Stephanie L. Muller
Editor
Counselor,TheMagazine for Addiction Counselors
A Health Communications, Inc. Publication

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