Phil Gingrey: “I just want to say that what you have brought to the Members tonight regarding what I think you would agree we could…”

“I just want to say that what you have brought to the Members tonight regarding what I think you would agree we could call mental health parity is a hugely important issue. I think my colleagues in the medical profession who are still practicing, especially those whom I know so well back home in Marietta, Georgia, expected when I came to Congress that I would have all of the answers and be able to solve all of our problems but the truth is I have learned just about as much as I have contributed and realizing today after being out of the practice of medicine, the bedside care of patients for almost 4 years now, how important this issue of mental health parity is that you bring to our attention tonight. You are right, absolutely. There are so many people who suffer from mild, moderate, severe depression, they are not psychotic, they do not need to be institutionalized, they do not even need to be hospitalized, but their illness, their depression, results in decreased productivity. You mentioned that. Away from their job. It also is detrimental to their physical well-being whether, as you point out, it is heart disease, diabetes, or whatever. You talked about the effect on platelets. There is no question about that. And, of course, the very important point you made about their compliance with medical treatment, again, whether that is heart disease or diabetes.…”