NU Online News Service, April 30, 10:03 a.m. — Washington
President Bush's decision to support mental health parity legislation is drawing reactions ranging from cautious to criticism from business and insurance groups.
Donald Young, president of the Health Insurance Association of America, Washington, criticized mental health coverage mandates, saying that they ultimately operate as a hidden tax on workers.
"At a time when health care costs are soaring, the last thing employers and workers need is a new mandate that will make health insurance even more expensive," Young said.
He said workers will actually foot the bill for the mandates.
"Lawmakers support them because they can get credit for something that doesn't cost the government anything," Young said.
Neil Trautwein, director of employment policy for the National Association of Manufacturers, Washington, praised Bush's comment that any expanded benefit adopted should not greatly increase the cost of health coverage.
