Washington, DC –Senator Susan Collins is cosponsoring legislation that will eliminate the unfair practice of requiring Medicare patients to pay copayments of 50 percent for mental health services, as compared to copayments of 20 percent for physical health services. The Medicare Mental Health Copayment Equity Act will phase-down the copayments for mental health care services over the next six years from 50 percent to 20 percent. Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and John Kerry (D-MA) are the bill's sponsors.
"One of the most daunting public health challenges facing our nation today is how to increase access to quality mental health services for the more than 44 million Americans with severe mental disorders. This disparity in coverage is another barrier to people suffering from mental health conditions, keeping many Medicare recipients from receiving necessary mental health treatment," Senator Collins said.
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