Projo Politics Blog

Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy's signature mental health bill has found a legislative vehicle that could speed its progress through the Senate, where the measure has been on hold weeks.

The chairman of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., announced yesterday that he has added the mental health parity bill to a package of tax relief measures likely to receive full Senate consideration soon.

Rhode Island Democrat Kennedy and Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-Minn., are the principal House sponsors of a bill that would require insurance companies to cover mental health insurance claims on an equal footing with claims for the treatment of physical ailments or injuries - hence the term ``parity.''

The two men fashioned their bill after a series of hearings around the country last year. They dramatized their drive for parity by highlighting their personal experiences in recovery - from mental illness, drug addiction and alcoholism in Kennedy's case, and from alcoholism in Ramstad's.

Earlier this year, the House passed their bill overwhelmingly, but it had to be reconciled with a less expansive version that had cleared the Senate last year under the sponsorship of Kennedy's father, U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass.; Sen. Pete V. Domenici, R-N.M. and Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo.

Most of the differences were ironed out in a series of compromise offers exchanged between the House and the Senate by mid-spring. But delays ensued after Senator Kennedy was diagnosed with brain cancer and had to step away from his Senate duties in order to undergo treatment.

In recent weeks, Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., has been pinch-hitting for Senator Kennedy on the parity talks. The final sticking point has been to find a payment mechanism that could pass the Senate.

Supporters of the parity measure believe such a mechanism is contained in the package that Baucus announced yesterday. If it passes the Senate, further House action on the compromise would still be needed. Dodd said yesterday that it is not clear whether the legislation can clear both houses and be sent to President Bush for his signature before the August congressional recess begins.

 

 Tags  mental health mental health parity bill Rep. Patrick Kennedy

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