HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 66
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates Martin, Fleischauer,
Amores, Anderson, Angotti, Armstead, Ashley, Azinger, Beane,
Boggs, Border, Butcher, Campbell, Cann, Capito, Caputo, Collins,
Compton, Dalton, Davis, Dempsey, Douglas, Doyle, Ennis, Evans,
Everson, Facemyer, Faircloth, Ferrell, Fletcher, Frederick,
Givens, Hall, Harrison, Hatfield, Hines, Houston, Hubbard, Hunt,
Hutchins, Jenkins, Johnson, Kelley, Kominar, Kuhn, Laird, Leach,
Leggett, Linch, Mahan, Manchin, Manuel, Marshall, McGraw, Miller,
Modesitt, Overington, Perdue, Pettit, Pino, Proudfoot, Prunty,
Romine, Rowe, Schadler, Shelton, Smirl, J. Smith, L. Smith,
Sparks, Spencer, Stalnaker, Staton, Stemple, Susman, Thompson,
Tillis, Trump, Tucker, Varner, Warner, Webb, C. White, H. White,
L. White, Williams, Willis, Willison, Wills, Wright and Yeager:)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to make
a legislative interim study to determine the feasibility of
requiring health care insurers to provide coverage for the
medical treatment of mental illnesses on the same basis as
coverage is provided for other illnesses and diseases.
Whereas, Many health insurance plans do not provide adequate coverage for the treatment of serious mental illnesses; and
Whereas, Mental illnesses, including, but not limited to,
schizophrenia, delusional disorders, bipolar affective disorders,
depression and obsessive compulsive disorders, substance abuse
and developmental disabilities, all substantially limit the life
activities of persons with those illnesses and, thus, should be
covered by health insurance plans on the same basis as coverage
is provided for other illnesses and diseases; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to review, examine and study the issue of requiring
health care insurers to provide coverage for the medical
treatment of mental illnesses on the same basis as coverage is
provided for other illnesses and diseases; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2000,
on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with
drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its
recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct
this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary
legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint
Committee on Government and Finance.