Casey Introduces Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Reduce Mental Health Care Costs for Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families

The bipartisan, bicameral Stop Copay Overpay Act would make mental health care visits cost no more than a regular doctors' visit

Across TRICARE plans, copay costs for mental health visits increased by at least 250% since 2017

Servicemembers and veterans are more likely than civilians to experience mental health conditions

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Stop Copay Overpay Act to make mental and behavioral health care affordable and accessible to military servicemembers, veterans, and their families through TRICARE. As military servicemembers and their families grapple with the stress or trauma that military service may inflict, Senator Casey is fighting to make sure they have access to the mental health treatment they need. This legislation would make mental health care visits cost no more than a visit to a primary healthcare provider across all TRICARE plans. U.S. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA-14) included the House version of this legislation as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

"We can never fully repay our servicemembers and their families for their sacrifice, but we can, and we must, ensure that they get the health care they deserve. This bill will ensure that members of the military, veterans, and their families pay the same amount for mental health care as they do for any other doctor's visit," said Senator Casey. "Military servicemembers paid the price to defend our Nation; now we must make sure that they can take care of their health and wellbeing."

"As a veteran, I've seen too many brave men and women struggle to access the mental health care they need and deserve. It's not right. Mental health care is health care, and creating cost parity between primary care visits and behavioral and mental health visits would be one giant leap forward in ending the stigma to seek treatment," said Representative Houlahan. "I'm proud to partner with fellow Pennsylvanians Rep. Reschenthaler, a veteran, and Senator Casey, a longtime champion for Pennsylvania's veterans, to introduce our Stop Copay Overpay Act. This bipartisan bill will ensure that our military families under TRICARE can access affordable mental health care. After all they have done for this nation, they deserve nothing less."

After learning from Pennsylvania veterans and service families that copays for mental and behavioral health visits have disproportionately increased since 2017, Senator Casey introduced the Stop Copay Overpay Act. The Stop Copay Overpay Act would reduce financial barriers to those seeking mental and behavioral health care by establishing pay parity-capping copays at a level equal to those for normal primary care visits.

Mental health issues affect millions of Americans each year, but servicemembers and veterans are even more likely to experience mental health conditions that compromise their quality of life. These conditions can lead to substance use disorder, homelessness, and suicide. High copay costs for mental and behavioral health visits may prevent servicemembers and their families from seeking the care they critically need. This legislation would reduce TRICARE copay costs for military families without reducing reimbursement for mental health providers by shifting the cost of care to the Department of Defense (DoD).

Senator Casey has consistently fought to expand health care for Pennsylvania veterans and their families. In 2022, Senator Casey championed the passage of the Honoring our PACT Act-the largest veterans' health care bill in decades to expand U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) health care to more than 3.5 million veterans. Honoring our PACT Act was the culmination of Senator Casey's long record of fighting to improve health care for veterans. Senator Casey also pressed the VA to swiftly address challenges facing Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS) in January and May.

The Stop Copay Overpay Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Peter Welch (D-VT).

Read more about the Stop Copay Overpay Acthere.

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