Walz Pushes for Passage of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act

Press Release

WALZ PUSHES FOR PASSAGE OF THE PAUL WELLSTONE MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION EQUITY ACT

Today, on National Mental Health Parity Day, Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN) issued the following statement regarding the long-overdue Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. The bill (H.R. 1424) has bipartisan support from 264 co-sponsors, including Walz and chief sponsors Congressmen Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN).

"Mental health parity is extremely important to ensuring that we continue to build a healthy, vibrant society. Mental illness and addiction are two diseases that cross all boundaries. These devastating diseases strike our seniors, our soldiers and so many others and yet, until now, the Congress has not insisted that insurance companies recognize and cover these life-altering diseases."

"This legislation is important because it closes the loopholes that allow insurers to charge higher co-payments and deductibles for mental health and addiction treatment while simultaneously lowering the amount of coverage provided by a patient's plan. Everyone in our society benefits when those suffering from mental illness and addiction get the full, comprehensive care they need and deserve. This legislation has my full support and I urge the House and Senate leadership to move it quickly to the floor."

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