According to Politico (2/13, Ollstein, Wilson), now, as Democrats pivot to crack “down on insurers who routinely deny mental health and addiction claims” in an effort to assure mental health parity, the health “insurance industry and its allies, which have successfully staved off tougher enforcement, are lining up against the measures,” spending time “talking with committee chairs and sending letters to key lawmakers to stop a pair of bills, including tougher enforcement such as stiff fines.” Mental healthcare clinicians, “looking to counter the insurance industry’s claims, are also ramping up their lobbying and urging Congress on as they consider penalizing insurers.” Saul Levin, MD, MPA, FRCP-E, FRCPsych, CEO and Medical Director of the American Psychiatric Association, told Politico, “This is the big issue for us on the Hill.” Dr. Levin added, “If you can’t provide care, what are we here for?”
Related Links:
— “Mental health push in Congress sparks lobbying frenzy “Alice Miranda Ollstein and Megan Wilson, Politico, February 13, 2022