Lee Terry: “I strongly support the mental health community and believe that millions of Americans living with mental health illness…”

“I strongly support the mental health community and believe that millions of Americans living with mental health illness and addiction need access to treatment. Screening and early treatment remains an important and cost-effective way of combating mental health illness and addiction. Unfortunately, the bill before us today seeks to extend mental health treatment by stifling innovation, increasing health insurance cost to employers and employees and mandates that ALL diagnoses, such as 'jet lag' and 'caffeine intoxication' listed in the DSM-IV be covered. A provision in H.R. 1424 also seeks to limit physician ownership in hospitals, regardless of whether those hospitals are in rural or small communities. Physician owned hospitals strive to eliminate preventable complications and errors in order to improve patient care. Specialty care hospitals are an integral part of our community in Nebraska. They provide quality care and help keep costs down.”