In some instances, certain states may have been placed at a disadvantage. To ensure fairness, the federal government must keep up with the states. Federal-state harmony needs to be maintained. It also prohibits limits on the number of inpatient days or outpatient visits for treatment of mental illnesses in general. Businesses with 25 or fewer employees also are exempted from the requirements of the bill.
Parity is both affordable and cost-effective.
By enacting S. 796, Congress will reduce burdens on individuals, families, businesses and communities. It will help save lives. The 1990s brought unprecedented federal and state legislation to end health insurance discrimination against individuals with mental illnesses. After the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 was signed into law, the momentum shifted to the states. A firestorm of legislative activity created a patchwork quilt of various parity laws around the country.