US Senate and House of Representatives negotiators have included mental health parity in an omnibus bill debated on the Senate floor the evening of October 1. The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act combines a revised Wall Street/Main Street rescue bill with the tax extender,disaster relief, Alternative Minimum Tax patch,and the parity bill passed by the Senate September 23. The Senate will take up H. 1424, the parity bill passed by the House in March, and Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) will immediately offer an amendment that replaces the text of HR 1424 with the text of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act. PCPA urges members to contact their members of Congress and vote YES on this vital legislation. The House is expected to take up the same bill late Thursday or Friday. Further questions may be directed to Anne Leisure.
