Kathy Castor: “Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader Boehner: The Federation of American Hospital (FAH), representing America's investor-owned…”

“Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader Boehner: The Federation of American Hospital (FAH), representing America's investor-owned and managed hospitals and health systems, supports swift passage of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007 (H.R. 1424). This legislation will provide greatly needed access to mental health treatment for Americans who need it most. This bipartisan legislation would end prevalent forms of health insurance discrimination against patients with debilitating chronic mental illnesses. Additionally, H.R. 1424 will assist millions of Americans in obtaining the necessary hospital care they need and were previously denied because of inadequate mental health coverage. H.R. 1424 is paid for, in part, by prohibiting physician self-referral to a hospital in which a physician has an ownership interest.”