The House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday voted 27-13 to approve a bill (HR 1424) sponsored by Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) that would require most health insurers to provide equal levels of coverage for physical and mental illnesses, CQ Today reports (Armstrong, CQ Today, 9/26). The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act -- named for the late senator who advocated for the issue -- would take effect on Jan. 1, 2008 (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 9/20).

Before the vote, committee Republicans proposed and withdrew several amendments that would have made the legislation more similar to a companion bill (S 558) passed last month by the Senate (CQ Today, 9/26). The House bill includes provisions not included in the Senate legislation, such as a broader definition of medical conditions that insurers would have to cover. In addition, the Senate bill would take effect one year after the legislation becomes law, rather than on Jan. 1 (Kasier Daily Health Policy Report, 9/20).

The Senate bill has the support of health insurers, but Kennedy and other House members said that their legislation would provide more protection for individuals with mental illnesses. The House bill, which will move to the Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration before a floor vote, likely will pass, but the final legislation likely will include the language of the Senate bill, according to CQ Today (CQ Today, 9/26).