Insight Matters
Fall, 2004

One step closer to parity

The Ohio legislature returned to on Tuesday, Nov., 9, 2004 for the few remaining days of the 125th General Assembly and it was standing room only in the Senate Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee hearing room. History was made when, for the first time, proponents of House Bill (HB) 225, also known as the Mental Health Parity bill, were given an opportunity to state their case in front of the Senate in support of a bill that would eliminate the discrimination that exists in Ohio regarding insurance coverage for mental health services.

Representative Lynn Olman (R-Maumee) provided sponsor testimony in the Senate on May 11 and when it appeared certain that there may not be additional hearings scheduled, OPA members, along with representatives and members from many other advocacy groups, including NAMI Ohio (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill - Ohio) put into motion a major grassroots advocacy effort. Over the past several months, thousands of phone calls, letters, e-mails and face-to-face visits have been directed to members of the committee, including the chair, Senator Scott Nein, and Senate President, Doug White, urging additional hearings.

Once again, we have witnessed that advocacy works! More than a hundred people packed the Senate hearing room where proponent testimony was kicked off by OPA member and APA representative, Sul Ross Thorward, M.D., whose compelling testimony focused on the discrepancy that currently exists in basic health-care insurance in Ohio when some insurers treat mental illnesses differently than physical ailments. Dr. Thorward stated that "it makes no sense to provide basic health care for our brain through insurance for problems of movement (such as Parkinson's Disease), but not insure that very same brain disrupted in the very same location, for problems of perception and thought (such as Schizophrenia).

Several patients as well as family members provided testimony that highlighted the economic and emotional toll that lack of health care benefits for mental health services has taken on their families. Lawmakers were reminded that this version of the mental health parity bill has had several compromises and now covers only serious biological mental illnesses and does not include conditions associated with alcohol and/or drug abuse. Further, it was emphasized that the community mental health budget is not prepared to properly handle mental health services given the significant cuts that have taken place since 1992.

Following the proponent testimony, advocates met for a luncheon with their senators, which was organized by NAMI Ohio. Participants were organized into advocacy teams, which included a family member, a member of a local county mental health board, and where possible, an OPA member. After lunch, the advocacy teams visited each of the 33 Senators' offices to ask them to support parity.

In addition to S.R. Thorward, M.D., other OPA members who participated in the advocacy teams were: Jonathan Dunn, M.D., Todd Ivan, M.D., Victoria Kelly, M.D., Kenneth Miller, M.D., Melvin Shelton, M.D., and Jessica Strafford, M.D.

We must now keep the momentum going if Ohio is to be 36th state to pass a parity bill! Call or write your Senator, as well Chairman Scott Nein, Senate President Doug White and Governor Taft to request that additional hearings be scheduled on H.B. 225 and to advocate on behalf of the mental health parity bill.

The Honorable Jay Hottinger, Chair*
Senate Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee
(614) 466-5838
sd31@mailr.sen.state.oh.us

Senate President Doug White
(614) 466-8082
dwhite@mailr.sen.state.oh.us

Governor Bob Taft
(614) 466-3555

If you haven't already done so, visit the NAMI Ohio Website at www.namiohio.org and register to become a part of the Advocate, which includes "talking points" related to H.B. 225 as well as an opportunity to send automatic electronic communications to your Senator.

* Change effective 11/17/04

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