Parity now
Barbara Bohm
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
SOON Congress will adjourn. We should all urge our representatives to pass mental health parity in the House, as it already has done unanimously in the Senate.
Passage was unanimous despite party differences because this was a matter of fairness. It has been shown, for example, that major mental illnesses like bipolar disorder have a strong genetic base by doing twin studies. Is it right that if you have a chronic illness like diabetes, your insurance co-pay is 20 percent, but, if your illness is bipolar it is 50 percent? Both are genetically based life-style influenced illnesses. I am myself bipolar and both my parents are diabetics, so I know. Please contact your representative in Congress to do the right thing: pass mental health parity.
Barbara Bohm
Emporia