Press
Release: Parity Bill - HR 1424
Date:
March 12, 2008
Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives
passed the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act, HR
1424, by a 268-148 vote.
Thank you
to everyone who has advocated on behalf of this important bill in the
past year! Legislative victories like the one last night are only
possible because of the dedication and efforts of advocates like you.
Yesterday was the
first time that a bill to end insurance discrimination came to the floor
of the House of Representatives. HR 1424--sponsored by Representatives
Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) and Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.)--requires health
insurance companies to cover substance use disorders and mental
illnesses at the same level that they cover other medical conditions.
Prohibitive cost and lack of insurance coverage are among the top
reasons that people in need of addiction treatment do not receive it.
The next step for
this important legislation is a "conference committee" between the U.S.
House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. The Senate passed an
insurance parity bill (S.558) unanimously in December 2007. The
conference committee's role is to find a compromise between the bills
from each chamber. Although both the Senate and House versions of
legislation aim to increase insurance coverage of addiction and mental
illness, the House bill is "stronger" in several ways. For example, HR
1424 requires that out-of-network benefits for addiction match
out-of-network benefits for general medical care, and it defines the set
of substance use disorders and mental health conditions that insurance
companies must cover.
Despite yesterday's victory, our work is not over yet!
We must now ensure that the conference committee adopts the strongest
possible consumer protections. More information will be circulated on
this process as it becomes available. But in the meantime,
congratulations for your outstanding advocacy for HR 1424!
Press
Release: Parity Bill - HR 1424
Date:
March 6, 2008
Rally before Congress
to End Insurance Discrimination
On
Wednesday, March 5, the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to
vote on HR 1424, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity
Act. HR 1424 would prevent insurance companies from providing lower
coverage for addiction and mental health treatment than they provide for
general medical care. Once this bill is passed, the U.S. House and
Senate can negotiate the differences between their two parity bills with
the aim of getting a bill approved by both chambers and signed into law
by the President this year.
The hard
work of advocates like you has brought the bill this far. Join with
other supporters from around the country as we celebrate this historic
vote!
Rally for Parity
Wednesday, March 5, 1:00 pm
Washington,
D.C.
Cannon House Office Building Terrace
(New Jersey Ave. SE & Independence Ave. SE)
Capitol South Metro (orange & blue
lines)
Featuring: U.S.
Representatives Jim Ramstad and Patrick Kennedy (HR 1424's sponsors),
former First Lady Rosalynn Carter,
David Wellstone, and
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi
Press
Release: R-Quest Co-Sponsoring KFAX Event - Chonda Pierce
Date:
February 23, 2008
We are pleased to announce that
R-Quest is one of the sponsors of the KFAX event with comedian
Chonda Pierce. The Chonda Pierce Show can be found at Harbor
Light Church in Fremont, California on Thursday, February 28, 2008
We will be displaying brochures and
business cards about the R-Quest addiction and recovery services and
will have The 12 Steps through PSALM 23 workbooks written by Marcy
Hawkins available for purchase.
The R-Quest Display table will be
selling jewelry, journals, Psalm 23 Lavender Lambs and recovery
Bibles. Click here for additional information [
click here ].
Press
Release: AB 1367 - UPDATE
Date:
January 30, 2008
We are
very sad to inform you that our bill did not make it out of
appropriations. However, please be informed: this is not just another
failed CAADAC licensure bill! We want to let you know that along with
the incredibly skillful guidance of our lobbyist, Willie Guerrero, at
Kahn, Soares and Conway, your legislative committee removed all of the
influential opposition to the bill and, if it weren't for the dismal
financial situation of California, all indications were that licensure
would have become law this year. To let you know just how dismal the
financial situation is, there were about 68 bills heard in the Assembly
Appropriations Committee on Thursday, the cost of which totaled about 6
billion dollars. Only about 20 bills passed -- with a total price tag
to the state of 1.5 million!
For more information [
click here ].
Press
Release: AB 1367 (Second Chance Act )
Date:
November 13, 2007
On Nov. 13,
the House of Representatives passed
the Second Chance Act (HR 1593) by an overwhelming 347-62 vote.
The Second
Chance Act creates important new programs to help prisoners re-enter
their communities. Expanded access to drug treatment both in and out of
prison is a key element of the Second Chance Act. For more information
[
click here ].
We need to
keep the momentum and tell the Senate to follow the House's lead and
approve the Second Chance Act, S. 1060! (Both the House and Senate must
pass a bill before it can become law.) Click
"Take Action" to send
your Senators the message that more drug treatment means less crime and
healthier communities.
Press
Release: HR 1593 ( Second Chance Act )
Date:
November 13, 2007
On Nov. 13,
the House of Representatives passed
the Second Chance Act (HR 1593) by an overwhelming 347-62 vote.
The Second
Chance Act creates important new programs to help prisoners re-enter
their communities. Expanded access to drug treatment both in and out of
prison is a key element of the Second Chance Act. For more information
[
click here ].
The Second Chance Act of 2007 (S.1060, HR 1593) is designed
to reduce prisoner recidivism by improving the services
available to people before they leave prison and once they
return to society
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