Scott Praises Biden-Harris Administration for Historic Final Rule to Expand Access to Mental and Behavioral Health Care

As originally released by the Committee on Education and the Workforce, Democrats

WASHINGTON-Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) and Health, Employment, Labor andPensions (HELP) Subcommittee Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) released the following statements after the Biden-Harris Administrationand the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury released a final rule to strengthen mental health parity.

Ranking Member Scott:

"I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for taking historic action to improve mental health care coverage and access for more than 150 million Americans. The new rule will improve insurers and health plans' compliance with the law and ensure that consumers have equivalent access to both behavioral and physical health benefits.Moreover, the rule clarifies what types of actions violate the law's parity requirements and takes necessary steps to close existing loopholes that have undermined access.

"Access to high-quality mental health care and substance use disorder treatment are essential to overall health and well-being. Mental illnesses are closely linked to physical health problems, such as diabetes, stroke, andheart disease. Conversely, chronic physical illnesses can increase the risk of mental illnesses.

"Today's announcement is yet another example of the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to expanding access to affordable, quality health care for all Americans."

HELP Subcommittee Ranking Member DeSaulnier:

"Having lost my father to suicide, I know all too well the harm that results from a lack of access to mental health care, and after working alongside Ranking Member Scott for years to expand this access, I applaud theBiden-Harris Administration's bold and historic action to improve quality coverage for mental and behavioral health care by closing loopholes that have left too many Americans without the support they need for too long."

Background:

Committee on Education and the Workforce Democrats have taken the lead in working to secure mental andbehavioral health parity, which is the principle that coverage for mental health and substance use disorder services should be equal to coverage for medical and surgical services. Ranking Member Scott and CommitteeDemocrats recently introduced H.R. 9137, the LET'S Protect Workers Act, which would improve enforcement of federal labor laws, including the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. Last fall, Ranking Members Scott and DeSaulnier submitted comments in support of the Biden-Harris Administration's proposed rule. They have also called for action by the Department of Labor and Congress to expand parity to long-term disability insurance, consistent withrecommendations of the ERISA Advisory Council.

Despite the long track record of bipartisan work on this important issue, Republicans have opposed the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts to improve parity. Committee Republicans have not held a single hearing on parity during the 118^th Congress.

To read the comment letter submitted by Ranking Member Scott and Ranking Member DeSaulnier in support of the proposed rule, click here. To read their letter regarding parity in disability insurance, click here.

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