September 7, 2005, in the North Hearing Room of the Statehouse, the Senate Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee heard proponent testimony on S.B. 116 – Mental Health Parity. Physicians and patients urged the Senate panel to support long-sought legislation to boost health insurance coverage for mental illnesses.
Dr. S.R. Thorward told the Senate Insurance, Commerce & Labor Committee that mandated basic health care in the state should cover all the body's major organ systems, but does not. "Ohio leaves major systems of the human brain uncovered, excluded or poorly covered," he said.
Dr. Thorward said that while basic policies cover all standard treatments of the brain disorder known as Parkinson's disease, they require higher co-pays and provide limited benefits for Schizophrenia, a disorder of thought and perception.
"Similar restrictions apply in multiple other disorders including major depression, the second leading cause of disability in the United States and panic disorder, a major cause of unnecessary emergency room visits and medical expenditures in the United States," he said.
"It just makes no sense to provide basic health care for our brain through insurance for problems of movement, but not insure that very same brain, disrupted in the very same locations, for problems of perception and thought," Dr. Thorward said. He testified in support of the bill on behalf of the Ohio State Medical Association, Ohio Psychiatric Association, and Coalition for Healthy Communities.
In addition to Dr. Thorward, the Senators heard testimony from NAMI member Julie Walker and NAMI Ohio Board member Denise Nichols. Shelly Kiser, from the Mental Health Association also testified, telling the panel about her experiences dealing with the discrimination against insurance coverage for mental illness.
Sen. Patricia Clancy (R-Cincinnati) raised the matter of premium costs during the committee hearing. "This issue has been around as long as I've been in the legislature. It's been debated again and again," she said. Sen. Clancy asked about the fiscal track record in other states.
William Sheehan, chief executive officer of the Torrmetal Corporation, Cleveland, told the committee that costs associated with the legislation would be capped at one percent. "If a small increase in the cost of premiums occurs, I will gladly pay these increases. I will not reduce my employees' benefits or reduce staff in response," he said.
"I will do this because I know it's the right thing to do and any increase will be greatly offset by the rise in productivity, decrease in absences and reduction in the need for long-term disability," Mr. Sheehan said. Sheehan is a NAMI member and a member of the Cuyahoga County Mental Health Board.
Harvey Snider, NAMI Ohio Board President delivered the summation of the proponent testimony. Mr. Snider exhorted the Senators to “do the right thing” and eliminate this onerous discrimination. At the conclusion of his testimony, Senator Ray Miller asked Mr. Snider, “I know you have worked on this issue for a long time. Weren’t you here in 1986 to offer testimony to the legislature in support of mental health parity?” Snider, a longtime advocate from Cleveland acknowledged his role in presenting this important issue in Ohio.
At the conclusion of the hearing yesterday, Chairman Hottinger announced that opponents would have a chance to testify on October 4th at 9AM. It is extremely important that mental health parity supporters attend this hearing so that the members of the Senate understand our commitment to this issue. We should no longer consider this campaign as an effort to educate legislators on the importance of this issue. We have been quite successful on that point. Our opponents in the Ohio General Assembly understand that mental health treatment works. They have heard over and over again from families that have been torn apart by the tragedies created when their insurance company denies access to the treatment they need. These legislators understand that these illnesses are no different from other physical illnesses.
Only one issue remains. How can our elected representatives support this offensive form of discrimination? The business lobbyists and the legislators that follow them perpetrate the stigma that we have fought for years. It is not an issue of cost. It is an issue of our lawmakers allowing a form of discrimination to exist and attempting to justify it by hiding behind a principle of opposing mandates.
Discrimination is offensive everywhere it exists. This country passed laws to eliminate discrimination based on race. Laws were passed to eliminate discrimination based on gender, age, and national origin. These laws were mandates designed to protect populations that had endured discriminatory practices. The opponents of those laws also stated that their opposition was based on their principles. They were wrong then – and they are wrong today. This discrimination must end!
The hearing yesterday was a great day in the history of mental health advocacy in Ohio. Every member of the Senate panel voiced their understanding and support for our cause. In the mingling of Senators and mental health advocates after the hearing, we were encouraged to keep fighting for what is right. It is now time to take the fight to those that continue to support this act of blatant discrimination.
Let you Senator know what you think of this discrimination. Let Senate President Harris know what you think of this discrimination. We must overcome this opposition to make Mental Health Parity a reality in Ohio and we must do it now for the hundreds of thousands of the citizens of this state that depend upon our diligence in representing them.
Thank you for all that you are doing and continue to do in this important battle.
To find contact information for your own Senator, go to the NAMI Ohio website at: http://www.namiohio.org/educating_officials.HTM To let Senate President Harris know how you feel, write call or email him at: The Honorable Bill Harris Senate President Statehouse Room #201, Second Floor Columbus, Ohio 43215 Telephone: 614/466-8086 Email: SD19@mailr.sen.state.oh.us Advocates can also find two new documents on the NAMI Ohio website. The new parity brochure is listed on the front page as: Mental Health Parity Makes Sense for Ohio New Mental Health Parity Brochure
And the Mental Health Parity Research Summary is also on the front page as: Mental Health Parity Research Summary: Does Parity Make Sense for Ohio?
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Dr. S.R. Thorward told the Senate Insurance, Commerce & Labor Committee that mandated basic health care in the state should cover all the body's major organ systems, but does not. "Ohio leaves major systems of the human brain uncovered, excluded or poorly covered," he said.
Dr. Thorward said that while basic policies cover all standard treatments of the brain disorder known as Parkinson's disease, they require higher co-pays and provide limited benefits for Schizophrenia, a disorder of thought and perception.
"Similar restrictions apply in multiple other disorders including major depression, the second leading cause of disability in the United States and panic disorder, a major cause of unnecessary emergency room visits and medical expenditures in the United States," he said.
"It just makes no sense to provide basic health care for our brain through insurance for problems of movement, but not insure that very same brain, disrupted in the very same locations, for problems of perception and thought," Dr. Thorward said. He testified in support of the bill on behalf of the Ohio State Medical Association, Ohio Psychiatric Association, and Coalition for Healthy Communities.
In addition to Dr. Thorward, the Senators heard testimony from NAMI member Julie Walker and NAMI Ohio Board member Denise Nichols. Shelly Kiser, from the Mental Health Association also testified, telling the panel about her experiences dealing with the discrimination against insurance coverage for mental illness.
Sen. Patricia Clancy (R-Cincinnati) raised the matter of premium costs during the committee hearing. "This issue has been around as long as I've been in the legislature. It's been debated again and again," she said. Sen. Clancy asked about the fiscal track record in other states.
William Sheehan, chief executive officer of the Torrmetal Corporation, Cleveland, told the committee that costs associated with the legislation would be capped at one percent. "If a small increase in the cost of premiums occurs, I will gladly pay these increases. I will not reduce my employees' benefits or reduce staff in response," he said.
"I will do this because I know it's the right thing to do and any increase will be greatly offset by the rise in productivity, decrease in absences and reduction in the need for long-term disability," Mr. Sheehan said. Sheehan is a NAMI member and a member of the Cuyahoga County Mental Health Board.
Harvey Snider, NAMI Ohio Board President delivered the summation of the proponent testimony. Mr. Snider exhorted the Senators to “do the right thing” and eliminate this onerous discrimination. At the conclusion of his testimony, Senator Ray Miller asked Mr. Snider, “I know you have worked on this issue for a long time. Weren’t you here in 1986 to offer testimony to the legislature in support of mental health parity?” Snider, a longtime advocate from Cleveland acknowledged his role in presenting this important issue in Ohio.
At the conclusion of the hearing yesterday, Chairman Hottinger announced that opponents would have a chance to testify on October 4th at 9AM. It is extremely important that mental health parity supporters attend this hearing so that the members of the Senate understand our commitment to this issue. We should no longer consider this campaign as an effort to educate legislators on the importance of this issue. We have been quite successful on that point. Our opponents in the Ohio General Assembly understand that mental health treatment works. They have heard over and over again from families that have been torn apart by the tragedies created when their insurance company denies access to the treatment they need. These legislators understand that these illnesses are no different from other physical illnesses.
Only one issue remains. How can our elected representatives support this offensive form of discrimination? The business lobbyists and the legislators that follow them perpetrate the stigma that we have fought for years. It is not an issue of cost. It is an issue of our lawmakers allowing a form of discrimination to exist and attempting to justify it by hiding behind a principle of opposing mandates.
Discrimination is offensive everywhere it exists. This country passed laws to eliminate discrimination based on race. Laws were passed to eliminate discrimination based on gender, age, and national origin. These laws were mandates designed to protect populations that had endured discriminatory practices. The opponents of those laws also stated that their opposition was based on their principles. They were wrong then – and they are wrong today. This discrimination must end!
The hearing yesterday was a great day in the history of mental health advocacy in Ohio. Every member of the Senate panel voiced their understanding and support for our cause. In the mingling of Senators and mental health advocates after the hearing, we were encouraged to keep fighting for what is right. It is now time to take the fight to those that continue to support this act of blatant discrimination.
Let you Senator know what you think of this discrimination. Let Senate President Harris know what you think of this discrimination. We must overcome this opposition to make Mental Health Parity a reality in Ohio and we must do it now for the hundreds of thousands of the citizens of this state that depend upon our diligence in representing them.
Thank you for all that you are doing and continue to do in this important battle.
To find contact information for your own Senator, go to the NAMI Ohio website at: http://www.namiohio.org/educating_officials.HTM To let Senate President Harris know how you feel, write call or email him at: The Honorable Bill Harris Senate President Statehouse Room #201, Second Floor Columbus, Ohio 43215 Telephone: 614/466-8086 Email: SD19@mailr.sen.state.oh.us Advocates can also find two new documents on the NAMI Ohio website. The new parity brochure is listed on the front page as: Mental Health Parity Makes Sense for Ohio New Mental Health Parity Brochure
And the Mental Health Parity Research Summary is also on the front page as: Mental Health Parity Research Summary: Does Parity Make Sense for Ohio?
If you received this message from a member of your advocacy network and would like to be included directly in future Action Alerts like this, send a blank email to: Email Me