Since 1908

Updated 3/4/08

Advocacy alert: Mental Health Parity

Michigan’s 2007 mental health parity bills were introduced in the House with 44 bipartisan cosponsors.  Parity bills were also re-introduced in the Senate

In March, four mental health parity bills, House Bills 4390-4393, were introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives and referred to the House Insurance Committee. Six bills were introduced in the Senate, SBs 329 & 330, and 332, 333-335; the bills were sent to the Senate Health Policy Committee.

Parity bills have been introduced into the Michigan Legislature in their present form for the last five sessions (by Representative Liz Brater in 1997) and in concept for the two sessions prior to that first by Representative Lynn Rivers, and handed off to Rep. Brater. We have been working to get parity passed in Michigan for 14 years.

Why do we think that this year may be the charm? It was very encouraging to gain
44 cosponsors in the House.  42 other states have passed some form of parity and none have repealed their laws.  Federal parity laws will pass this session, giving us good momentum, more press and attention to the issue. Last year, definitive cost studies were published that should have put the cost debate to rest.

However, we continue to face opposition in Michigan from the state Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Alliance and from several unions, including the UAW. So, it continues to be a battle--one in which we need your help.

For more information on parity: Your personal roadmap to parity (including a list of bill sponsors and cosponsors)... click here New studies put to rest the cost argument against mental health parity laws... click here for details Partners for Parity talking points...click here Have a look at the parity states map...click here For up-to-date information and alerts... see the Parity for Michigan web site