Topeka — Democratic legislative leaders Friday criticized Sen. Sandy Praeger, a Lawrence Republican, for backing off a proposal that would require insurers to provide coverage for mental illness just as they cover any other type of malady.
"For all the rhetoric (by Praeger), it seems like we are backing off the issue," said Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka.
Praeger has pushed for so-called mental health parity, but her legislation has been killed in the House under pressure from insurance companies and business groups.
Now she has endorsed a bill that would require mental health benefits but limit them to 45 days of hospital care and 45 days of outpatient care per year. Complete mental health parity would "be great" but it has no chance of passing in the House, she said.
"I'm trying to find some middle ground," said Praeger, chairwoman of the committee that handles insurance legislation in the Senate.
Her compromise proposal will be considered by the Senate next week.
Earlier this session, the House adopted a bill that did not require mental health coverage, but instead called for a study of the state insurance plan to determine the costs of providing mental illness coverage to state employees.
But Hensley and House Democratic Leader Jim Garner of Coffeyville said there should be no middle ground when it comes to mental health coverage.
"It's time to treat mental illness and physical illness on the same playing field," Hensley said.
Thirty-two states already have mental health parity laws, and one in 10 Americans suffers some kind of mental illness, according to mental health advocates.
Praeger said she agreed with Hensley, but was willing to compromise for a chance of getting a bill through the House that required benefits.
And she questioned the Democrats' motives.
"I think they would rather have the issue stay around than get something accomplished," she said.
Democrats denied they were playing politics.
"It's time to get Kansas into the 21st century," Hensley said.
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