CQ (1/4, Ethridge, Subscription Publication) reports that yesterday, “a group of House Democrats called on three Cabinet secretaries…to release a delayed final rule to provide equal insurance coverage for mental health services.” Thirty-two “Democrats, led by Ted Deutch of Florida and Tim Ryan of Ohio, said that last month’s deadly shootings at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school bring ‘newfound urgency’ to ensuring access to mental health care.” For that reason, “they requested the issuance of final rules set in a 2008 mental health law (PL 110-343 (1/4, Subscription Publication)) that would require insurers to offer mental health benefits coverage comparable to other medical benefits.” In February 2010, only an interim final rule was released.
