Mental Health Parity Update

Dr. Howard Goldman has published an article in the American Journal of Psychiatry about the FEHB Program’s successful mental health parity policy. Ironically, also today, the House Ways and Means Committee approved a mental health parity bill (HR 1424) which goes far beyond the FEHB Program’s policy and the bill approved by the Senate (S. 558). The Ways and Means Committee’s version of the House bill differs from the version that the Education and Labor Committee previously approved. The House bill must also be considered by the Energy and Commerce Committee. The Rules Committee will then consolidate the three versions in consultation with the House leadership. I do expect that a mental health parity bill will be enacted this year.