Bill Archer: “The only comprehensive study that has been done was by the RAND Corporation and they said just the reverse. There was no…”

“The only comprehensive study that has been done was by the RAND Corporation and they said just the reverse. There was no adverse selection. There is not one shred of evidence that I know of that MSAs are only for the healthy and the wealthy, but we can say anything we want to on this floor. Clearly, it does not have to be supported by evidence. Let me also say that it is ironic to me that on the one hand the statement is made, all we want was Kassebaum-Kennedy, do not add anything to it. That is what the President said right in this room in his State of the Union Address. Do not add anything. Now they are complaining because something has not been added to it. They had the opportunity then. They take a position today totally contrary to what they took in the debate when this bill was before the House. They had the opportunity to offer a motion to recommit with mental health parity in it. What was their motion to recommit? Kassebaum-Kennedy of the do not expand it, do not change it. Do not give anything else to any additional people.”