WASHINGTON -- The American Psychological Association (APA) applauds today's defeat of Senate bill 1955, the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability (HIMMA) Act. While we share the Senate's concern in the need to address the problem of America's uninsured, the HIMMA Act was not the answer.
The APA is pleased that the Senate also realized that the HIMMA Act was not the answer and has upheld state protection laws enacted over the past 30 years that improve access to mental health care for the estimated 57 million Americans suffering from a mental health disorder. With the defeat of this legislation, 39 state mental health parity laws and 32 state minimum mental health mandate or mandated offering laws will continue to protect those in need of mental health services. In addition, psychology "freedom of choice" laws in 42 states and D.C. will continue to ensure people have the ability to choose psychological services when they need them.
This vote is a critical victory in preserving every American's access to affordable, high-quality mental health care and in preventing further discrimination against those who suffer from a mental health disorder. We continue to urge Congress to introduce and pass federal legislation that will provide full parity between mental health coverage and physical health coverage.
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 150,000 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 human welfare.
SOURCE: American Psychological Association