Senator Chris Dodd, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and a longtime supporter of mental health parity, held a press conference at the Institute of Living in Hartford on Wednesday to celebrate the passage of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.

The new Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act would require group health insurance plans that offer mental health coverage to provide coverage that is no more costly or more restrictive of treatment than what is offered for physical illnesses. 

Dodd discussed the importance of this legislation and was joined by Dr. Harold Schwartz, Psychiatrist-in-Chief and Vice President for Behavioral Health at the Institute of Living; Kevin Lembo, Head of the Office of the Healthcare Advocate for the State of Connecticut; Mary Fox, Senior Vice President, Aetna Product Group; as well as family members who will benefit from this legislation.