From an e-alert sent out by the Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC):
Senate Agrees to Remove Barriers to Mental Health Coverage
Republican senators this morning removed language from the Senate's parity bill that would have made it more difficult for people with eating disorders to get treatment under many health insurance plans. The senators heard from business leaders and insurance companies, who last night decided to strike the preemption section of the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 (S 558). Mental health advocates believed that the preemption clause would weaken the parity bill, leaving it up to state laws to determine whether eating disordhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifers would be covered.
"This is a huge step forward," said EDC President Kitty Westin. "It shows that our work is paying off. It appears that the Senate will vote on parity this afternoon before the summer recess begins. If that happens, then mental health parity will probably be on top of the House agenda in early September, when Congress returns."
The EDC has actively supported the House and Senate bills.
What happens next?
The Energy and Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives will probably vote in early September on the House parity bill, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2007 (HR 1424).
What can you do?
If you are represented by a member who serves on this committee, call, write, or visit the member in August and explain why you think mental health parity is needed. Most members are spending much of August in their home districts, close to where you work or live.
HOUSE ENERGY & COMMERCE COMMITTEE
John D. Dingell (MI), Chairman
Democrats Republicans
Henry A. Waxman, CA Joe Barton, TX, Ranking Member
Edward J. Markey, MA Ralph M. Hall, TX
Rick Boucher, VA J. Dennis Hastert, IL
Edolphus Towns, NY Fred Upton, MI
Frank Pallone, Jr., NJ Cliff Stearns, FL
Bart Gordon, TN Nathan Deal, GA
Bobby L. Rush, IL Ed Whitfield, KY
Anna G. Eshoo, CA Barbara Cubin, WY
Bart Stupak, MI John Shimkus, IL
Eliot L. Engel, NY Heather Wilson, NM
Albert R. Wynn, MD John Shadegg, AZ
Gene Green, TX Charles W. "Chip" Pickering, MS
Diana DeGette, CO, Vice Chair Vito Fossella, NY
Lois Capps, CA Steve Buyer, IN
Mike Doyle, PA George Radanovich, CA
Jane Harman, CA Joseph R. Pitts, PA
Tom Allen, ME Mary Bono, CA
Jan Schakowsky, IL Greg Walden, OR
Hilda L. Solis, CA Lee Terry, NE
Charles A. Gonzalez, TX Mike Ferguson, NJ
Jay Inslee, WA Mike Rogers, MI
Tammy Baldwin, WI Sue Myrick, NC
Mike Ross, AR John Sullivan, OK
Darlene Hooley, OR Tim Murphy, PA
Anthony D. Weiner, NY Michael C. Burgess, TX
Jim Matheson, UT Marsha Blackburn, TN
G. K. Butterfield, NC
Charlie Melancon, LA
John Barrow, GA
Baron P. Hill, IN
3 comments:
I don't have a problem with them adding eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating to the mental health diagnostics. What I object to is this being used as a stepping stone to adding obesity as a mental health issue. My obesity has nothing to do with my mental health as it is not caused by an eating disorder but has been caused by years of yo-yo dieting and a failed WLS. Most fat people could probably say the same, but being labeled with a mental health disorder just because you are fat does a disservice to fat people and to people who really do have an eating disorder.
I couldn't agree with you more. It makes me ill to think of obesity getting into DSM-V.
We have to think before we do anything so don't have a problem with them adding eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating to the mental health diagnostics. What I object to is this being used as a stepping stone to adding obesity as a mental health issue.
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