APA Press Release
March 15, 2007

American Psychological Association
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American Psychiatric Association
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Joint Statement of the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association Calling on Congress to Pass Mental Health Parity Legislation

WASHINGTON, DC—Legislation requiring that mental health insurance coverage be equivalent to physical health coverage for all mental health and substance abuse disorders is a critical step toward improving access to care and the overall health of all Americans. Such legislation would end discrimination against people with mental health disorders, improve health outcomes and save healthcare dollars.

“Having a mental health disorder can be as debilitating as a physical health problem and is typically just as treatable,” states Sharon Stephens Brehm, Ph.D., president of the American Psychological Association. “In addition, there is a clear connection between mental health and physical health. The passage of true parity legislation would be a wise investment in overall health care delivery, treatment outcomes and workplace productivity.”

“Passing the strongest possible mental health parity bill now can save lives, improve Americans’ overall health and save our economy billions of dollars in lost productivity alone,” said Pedro Ruiz, M.D., president of the American Psychiatric Association. “The National Institute of Mental Health has shown that treatment success rates for disorders like depression and panic disorder surpass those of other medical conditions, such as heart disease. There is no sound argument for allowing insurance discrimination against Americans with mental healthcare needs.”

The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996, which expires on December 31, prevents larger health plans from imposing lifetime and annual dollar caps on mental health benefits. However, as current law permits health plans to have discriminatory limits on inpatient days, outpatient visits, co-payments, deductibles and other financial requirements, these loopholes must be closed. These coverage gaps limit patient access to needed care. Psychiatrists and psychologists are joining voices to call on Congress to pass a mental health parity bill that would end insurance discrimination against persons with mental health disorders.

On behalf of our combined nearly 185,000 members and for the benefit of all health care consumers, we call on Congress to pass a comprehensive mental health care parity bill with the sense of urgency that unmet health care needs demand.

The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists.  APA's membership includes more than 145,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students.  Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting health, education and human welfare.

The American Psychiatric Association is a national medical specialty society whose more than 38,000 physician members specialize in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illnesses including substance use disorders. Visit the APA at www.psych.org and www.HealthyMinds.org.