02/16/1998 09:00 AM Senate HES

          SCR 14 - PARITY FOR MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE                         
                                                                               
SENATOR LEMAN moved to adopt CSSCR 14(HES), version K.  There being            
no objection, the motion carried.                                              
                                                                               
TAPE 98-11, SIDE B                                                             
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN WILKEN explained version K incorporates the five                      
amendments adopted at the previous meeting.                                    
                                                                               
SENATOR LEMAN referred to item #1 on page 2, lines 7-8, and                    
expressed concern that the current phrase presumes that                        
discrimination against people with mental disorders is occurring in            
health insurance policies.  He maintained that if the word                     
"discrimination" is understood to mean differences in policies then            
its use is legitimate.                                                         
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN WILKEN asked Senator Leman if his concern is taken care of            
in the paragraph above which charges the Task Force with defining              
the four different classifications.  SENATOR LEMAN maintained that             
insurance policies are designed to discriminate among users because            
certain classes of users are higher risks, such as teenage drivers,            
therefore such discrimination is appropriate.                                  
                                                                               
SENATOR GREEN suggested using the phrase "review health insurance              
coverage of persons with mental disorders," because the concern is             
coverage rather than policies.                                                 
                                                                               
SENATOR LEMAN thought the existing language is acceptable as long              
as the intent is clear.                                                        
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN WILKEN suggested deleting lines 7-8 altogether to                     
eliminate the suggestion of discrimination.                                    
                                                                               
WALTER MAJOROS, Executive Director of the Alaska Mental Health                 
Board, stated his interpretation of the word "discrimination" would            
mean the Task Force is to study differential treatment of people               
with mental illnesses versus people with physical disorders, which             
is the heart of the issue.                                                     
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN WILKEN asked if that is taken care of on line 10, with the            
phrase, "special emphasis on parity, ...."  SENATOR GREEN thought              
the first "WHEREAS" clause contains that intent.                               
                                                                               
SENATOR GREEN moved to delete lines 7-8 on page 2.                             
                                                                               
MR. MAJOROS stated the issue is one of clarity, and that if the                
Legislature wants the Task Force to look at the issue of                       
differential treatment, lines 7-8 provide that mandate.  CHAIRMAN              
WILKEN suggested adding the words "differential treatment" to lines            
9-11.                                                                          
                                                                               
SENATOR LEMAN suggested using the language, "differential treatment            
in health insurance policies between coverage for mental and                   
physical disorders" because it will clarify the heart of the issue.            
MR. MAJOROS felt that language would be acceptable.                            
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN WILKEN announced the motion to delete lines 7-8 on page 2             
carried with no objection.                                                     
                                                                               
SENATOR LEMAN moved to create a new item #1, beginning on line 7,              
to read, "differential treatment in health insurance policies                  
between coverage for physical and mental disorders;".  There being             
no objection, the motion carried.                                              
                                                                               
SENATOR LEMAN moved to pass CSSCR 14(HES) as amended out of                    
committee with individual recommendations and its accompanying zero            
fiscal note.  There being no objection, the motion carried.