Six Pennsylvanians, including Kathy and Allen Benn, Alexis Katchuk and Danie Greenwell joined the EDC to educate Senators and Representatives on Mental Health Parity and the FREED Act on April 10, 2008. ACTH members spoke to legislative aides from six offices, and one congressman on the importance of Mental Health Parity, giving examples from their own lives and work.
The Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders (FREED) Act is a comprehensive bill to provide money for research, treatment, prevention, and education.
For over a decade, mental health advocates, including A Chance to Heal, have been working to educate legislators on a comprehensive mental health parity bill to protect those consumers who need critical mental health treatment. Though parity of cost now exists, insurance companies often restrict number of visits or days of treatment per year.
Both the Senate and House passed a version of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Parity bill by a vote of 268-148. (If signed into law, both would compel insurance companies to treat mental health in the same way they treat physical health.) Those two bills have been reconciled in a conference committee but legislators are currently in the process of securing funding before the bill can be brought to a vote. Though it previously stated President Bush would sign the bill into law, the White House now opposes HR 1424, stating that it "would effectively mandate coverage of a broad range of diseases".
It is estimated that insurance premiums will rise .4-1% though some studies have suggested a much lower rise in premiums.
See this NY Times Article for more information.
Ivy Silver testified before Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Representative Joe Sestak (D-PA), and Representative Jim Ramstad (R-CT) at a mental health parity forum on February 27th. Representatives Patrick Kennedy and Jim Ramstad recently introduced the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act (HR 1424/ S 558) into the House. This act would amend current law "to require equity in the provision of mental health and substance-related disorder benefits under group health plans." This act would require insurance companies to treat mental illnesses in the same way they treat physical illnesses so that people who are insured will be able to get the treatment they need.
Eating disorder advocates from around the nation met on Tuesday, May 1st to educate congress about mental healthcare parity and eating disorder funding. The Eating Disorder Coalition organized the day's events, including message training, appointments with congress members and their staff, and an award presentation for Patrick Kennedy for his work on mental healthcare issues.
Four Pennsylvanians traveled to DC for the day: Eileen Binckley, Rebecca Aycock, Danie Greenwell and Becky Anderson. The four met with aides for Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey, Representatives Charles Dent, Patrick Murphy, and Allyson Schwartz. The Mental Health Parity Act is predicted to pass the House and Senate this year and be signed into law by the President. Other great news is that soon, Patrick Kennedy will be introducing the FREED Act (Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders). Once that happens, we will send an email reminder out to call your Senator or Representative, and encourage them to support FREED: a comprehensive bill for the research, education, and treatment of eating disorders. Info at eatingdisorderscoalition.org.
See Patrick Kennedy discuss Mental Health Parity on the Today Show.
The voices of families, health care providers, researchers and politicians echoed through the halls of the Senate building and the House of Representatives on Thursday, September 14, 2006 when concerned citizens joined together in support of the Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity Act (IMPACT Act: S 1325 / HR 5698) and the Worldwide Charter for Action on Eating Disorders. A press conference was held in the Cannon House Office Building to prompt action by Congress to pass the IMPACT Act and to embrace the principals of the Worldwide Charter. Representative Mary Bono (R-California) and Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-Rhode Island) both Representatives stressed the need to break down the stigma, not all eating disorders look the same, we need to educate our medical professionals to recognize and treat eating disorders and eliminate the artificial time constraints placed on treatment by insurance companies.
Following the Press Conference, ACTH Executive Director Diane Coffey, Board Director Kathy Benn and her husband, Alan participated in the Eating Disorders Coalition's day. A group of about 80 EDC members was dispatched to "The Hill" for scheduled appointments with Legislative Aids. The Pennsylvania contingency of eight individuals paid visits to the offices of Senator Arlen Specter, Senator Rick Santorum, House Representative Allyson Schwartz, House Representative Jim Gerbach, and House Representative Todd Platt.
The voices of the teams carried a clear and consistent message: Eating disorders are preventable, treatable and people can recover. We need access to appropriate and affordable health care. The mortality rate among people with anorexia is 12 times higher than the annual death rate due to all causes of death among females ages 15-24 in the general population.
The Worldwide Charter for Action on Eating Disorders was developed through collaborations between the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) and over 1,800 professionals, patients and care providers from 45 countries. This global document identifies the rights of people with eating disorders and carers and calls upon those responsible for policy and practice to make a difference. For a complete copy of the Worldwide Charter for Action on Eating Disorders go to Academy for Eating Disorders Web site.
The IMPACT Act will implement many of the goals of the World Wide Charter at a national level. The IMPACT Act focuses on training for health care professionals, on research, and on promoting healthy eating and physical activity to combat obesity and eating disorders. Descriptions of all bills, sponsors and current cosponsor are available at www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org/ and if your Congress member is not signed on, go to the TAKE ACTION link and email or call your legislator and request their support.
Ivy Silver represented ACTH at this year's EDC National Conference in Washington D.C. The conference included advocacy training and meetings with elected officials to talk about the importance of appropriate public policy. Throughout the conference, forums of experts met to describe the threats and opportunities facing young children, adolescents, young adults and people of advancing years. Senator Hillary Clinton hosted a Congressional Briefing on the effect of eating disorders' Congressman Jim Ramstad (MN) spoke passionately about mental health parity. Several survivors ended the program with stories of loss, hope and optimism.
A complete summary of the conference and list of current bills and their statuses in both the House and Senate can be found at www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org.
