November 19, 2007

Late last week, the House of Representatives began a two week Thanksgiving holiday recess, without acting on legislation to require employers and health plans to cover treatment for mental illness on the same terms and conditions as all other illnesses - insurance parity. When Congress returns to Washington on December 4, there will be only three weeks remaining in this year's session to complete work on insurance parity legislation. We cannot allow this historic opportunity to achieve equitable coverage for mental illness treatment to slip away.


ACT NOW!


With time running short, it is critical for all members of Congress to hear from advocates on the importance of passing mental illness parity legislation before adjournment. This current two week recess affords a crucial opportunity to reach out to both Senators and House members to make clear that it is unacceptable for Congress to adjourn for the year without sending a parity bill to the President for him to sign into law.


Advocates are strongly encouraged to do as many of the following as possible:

Write letters to your Senators and House members urging passage of a mental illness parity bill before the end of the year.
Use NAMI's sample letter to the editor to write a letter to the editor of your local paper urging action on federal parity legislation.
Click here for talking points to engage members of Congress wherever you see them during the holiday season to remind them that they cannot fail to complete action on this bipartisan legislation. Advocates are encouraged to reach out to members of Congress when you see them at town hall meetings, radio call-in programs, holiday parades, shopping malls and Christmas tree lightings