DOMENICI & KENNEDY CELEBRATE PASSAGE OF MENTAL HEALTH PARITY BILL

WASHINGTON, D.C.--Tonight, Senators Pete Domenici and Edward M. Kennedyannounced Senate passage of the Mental Health Parity Act (S.558). The new legislationwill provide help to more 113 million Americans, and represents a major agreementbetween the health care community, business leaders, and insurance industry.Senator Domenici said, “Extraordinary effort went into getting us to this point. Senatepassage of this bill is significant, and I believe sets the stage for us to enact a nationalpolicy that will ensure individuals with mental illness have parity between mental healthcoverage and medical and surgical coverage. It is a matter of simple fairness.” Senator Kennedy said, “The passage tonight of the Mental Health Parity bill underscoresour commitment to treat all patients facing all diseases with the dignity and respect theydeserve. This new legislation will bring dramatic new help to millions of Americans whotoday are denied needed mental health care and treatment. This bill represents a majorbreakthrough for those with mental health needs, ensuring their access to fair andequitable health insurance.” ###