Unfortunately the Senate floor debate on mental health parity will not occur today.

Senator Domenici told a parity coalition representative in late morning that he was attempting to reach a "unanimous consent" agreement to take up the bill on a date in the near future. The snag has been that the "cost" amendment by Sen. Gregg has still not been received by the bill sponsors, and it appears that it has not been written. Only when the sponsors understand what that amendment proposes will they enter into an agreement that limits debate.

As the Defense Department bill will consume the Senate next week, our best guess is that parity may come up on the floor after the Memorial Day recess, in the first week of June. Stay tuned.

Peter Newbould
Director of Congressional & Political Affairs
American Psychological Assn. Practice Organization
202-336-5889

-----------------------------------------------

It's likely that the Senate will debate the Domenici/Kennedy mental health parity bill on Thursday afternoon. Discussions are occurring tonight on what the content of a Gregg amendment on cost would look like.

Stay tuned to your email in the morning and be ready to activate your grassroots to call Senators to urge their opposition to Gregg and support for Domenici.

Special targets (our Republican cosponsors of S. 486): Campbell, Chambliss, Grassley, Fitzgerald, Lugar, Roberts, Snowe, Collins, Coleman, Cochran, Burns, DeWine, Smith, Specter, Chafee, Graham, Bennett, Hatch, Warner, Thomas.

Peter Newbould
Director of Congressional & Political Affairs
American Psychological Assn. Practice Organization
202-336-5889

Back to Mental Health Issues Index