"Health & Medical News"

Washington — Bills to protect Americans from misuse of their genetic information and to prevent discrimination in mental health benefits attracted broad support last year but still face a tough road this year because of unresolved disputes.

Both the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 and the House and Senate mental health parity bills have an array of co-sponsors and support. All of the measures, except the House mental parity measure, were approved by one chamber of Congress last year.

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Popularity: unranked [?]

By Bob Curley

The children’s health-insurance bill passed by the House and Senate this week not only raises federal tobacco taxes to pay for expanded health care but also requires state programs to treat addiction and mental-health disorders on par with physical illnesses.

The Senate voted 67-29 on Sept. 27 to approve the expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The legislation would add $60 billion to SCHIP over the next five years, providing health coverage to an additional 4 million uninsured children. Currently, state-run SCHIP programs cover 6.6 million children who families have incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid but can’t afford health insurance.

Popularity: unranked [?]

By Bob Curley

In a major step forward for equal medical treatment and insurance coverage for addictive and mental-health disorders, the U.S. Senate voted this week to approve the Mental Health Parity Act, while the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee voted 10-3 to approve the more comprehensive Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007.

Popularity: 4% [?]