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[PCUSAnews] Mental health insurance benefits not to be discussed thi


From PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>
Date 28 Jun 2000 14:58:28

Note #6044 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

GA00097

	Mental health insurance benefits not to be discussed this year

	by Nancy D. Borst

LONG BEACH, June 28- Commissioners to the 212th General Assembly Wednesday
referred a commissioners' resolution seeking parity in health insurance
coverage between mental and physical illnesses to the 213th Assembly. The
vote to refer was 243-229, with 15 abstentions.

The Assembly Committee on Bills and Overtures had declined consideration of
the resolution, concurring with a recommendation from the stated clerk. The
standing rules give the clerk the authority to recommend an item be declined
if it relates to an issue that was before one of the two previous
assemblies. The issue of parity and the Board of Pensions of the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) was before the 210th General Assembly.

The commissioners' resolution asked the clerk to advocate for legislation in
20 states that do not require health insurance plans to provide full mental
health benefits in parity with other health benefits, and to advocate for
passage of the federal Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act. It further
urged the Board of Pensions to review language in its current policies and
report to the 213th Assembly what steps need to be taken to achieve full
parity among mental health, medical and surgical benefits in those policies.

An urgent need to help those already suffering from uncovered illnesses was
the reason given to consider the resolution this year.

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