Mental Health Parity Bill May Pass by Year's End

The mental health parity bill sponsored by Reps. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., and Jim Ramstad, R-Minn., will likely pass the House of Representatives by the end of the year, said Rep. Robert Andrews, D-N.J., who chairs the subcommittee that held the first hearing on the bill. Kennedy said he intends to champion his bill over one sponsored by his father, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., which has won support from businesses. Kennedy said he is open to compromise once the bills are passed and House and Senate negotiators meet in a conference committee. (CongressDaily, 7/12/07)