Florida needs Mental Health Parity Bill's passage

HB 19 – The Florida Mental Health Parity Bill

>Mental illnesses affect nearly 25% of Americans.

>Over 50 million adults -- at least 22 percent of the U.S. adult population -- suffer from mental disorders or substance abuse disorders on an annual basis.



>Individuals with mental illnesses face blatant health insurance discrimination.

>Nearly 98% of private sector health insurance plans impose some form of unfair, discriminatory limits on mental illness treatment, such as higher copayments, fewer allowable outpatient visits and inpatient days, and lower annual and lifetime benefits caps than are provided for other medical illnesses.



>The high costs to society of untreated and undertreated mental illnesses are well-documented.

> A National Institute of Mental Health sponsored-study revealed that mental and addictive disorders cost over $300 billion annually. This includes productivity losses of $150 billion, health care costs of $70 billion and other costs (e.g., criminal justice) of $80 billion.



>Advances in medical science have yielded successful and cost-effective treatments for mental disorders in the last two decades.

>Florida is one of only a few states that does not require insurance parity for mental health and substance abuse services



>Parity is fair and can save tax dollars by decreasing overall medical costs and reducing the number of people forced to seek publicly-funded treatment



>Adequate mental health and substance abuse benefit coverage has been shown to improve a person’s health, provides people with greater financial protection against unforeseen costs and reduces workplace absences and employee disabilities



SUPPORT THE PASSAGE OF HB 19 – THE FLORIDA MENTAL HEALTH PARITY ACT


Judith Evans, Executive Director
NAMI Florida, Inc.
316 E. Park Ave.
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
jevans9062@aol.com


Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can
change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
~Margaret Meade