Just copy-pasting what’s on ami-chan.net because it needs to be out and about as much as possible.

To everyone in the United States,

If you want to help in some way with some of the problems we’ve been having (regarding the 20 visits to a mental health provider limit, whereas there’s an unlimited/high limit on physical health doctor visits (probably around $2 million dollars), please read this, write to your senators and share it with others so they can do the same; you help yourself too, because if these laws are passed and you ever need to have therapy for WHATEVER reason, you’ll have a better shot at care.

Please contact your senators and ask them to support the Parity Legislation Bill 558. There’s a link to the NAMI webpage in the text below which makes it REALLY easy.

It will make a HUGE difference across the board if it’s passed.

I filled out a NAMI form a few weeks ago with regards to law HR 6331, which is regarding the equality with regards Medicare’s treatment of mental health, lowering the co-pay to 20% instead of 50% we’ll see what happens with that. I heard back from Senators Nelson and Martinez fairly quickly on that one. Here’s hoping.

August 7, 2008

Before leaving Washington for the August recess, sponsors of parity legislation reached an agreement on a final bill to require equitable coverage in health plans for mental illness treatment. Now all that is remaining is to find a “budget offset” and resolve how the bill will be sent to the President.

When Congress returns to Washington the week of September 8, there will be only 3 weeks remaining before final adjournment - a critical window to complete long awaited mental illness insurance parity legislation. Congress needs to pass parity before adjourning this year!

Act Now!

1. Tell Congress to pass parity this year! Tell your Senators and Representative to support finishing the job and passing parity legislation. The message from NAMI is simple, “Don’t adjourn for the year without passing mental illness insurance parity.”

Send an e-mail message to your Senators and House member

2. Reach out to members of Congress while they are home. This week Congress began a month-long summer recess, with members returning to their states and districts to meet with constituents. In addition to calling and writing members of Congress, it is also critical for advocates to reach out and press them at every public appearance during this current “district work period” - at town meetings, campaign rallies, parades, radio call-in programs, county fairs, etc. At these events, remind all members of Congress that:

* Mental illnesses are real,
* Treatment works - if you can get it,
* There is no justification for a health plan to impose limitations or conditions on mental illness treatment that do not apply to all other medical conditions, and
* There is broad agreement on a compromise version of the mental illness insurance parity bill (S 558-HR 1424), now Congress just needs to finish the job and pass the bill so it can be signed in to law this year.
* Do not adjourn for the year without passing mental illness insurance parity

Learn More

Read more about the bipartisan-bicameral agreement on mental illness insurance parity legislation.

If you Go to this page it will help you fill out a form letter detailing the issue and send it to your local senators for you. You can also add your own message to the email if you would like.

I’m sending mine now. Thank you for your help and support!

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