Keating signs into law mental health parity bill

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), May 14, 1999 by Tim Talley Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Gov. Frank Keating, who has vetoed mental health parity legislation in the past, signed a similar bill on Thursday that was overwhelmingly passed by the 1999 Oklahoma Legislature.

Supporters said "strong bipartisan support" forced Keating to sign off on the bill or risk having a veto overridden by the Legislature. The Republican governor has never been overridden in more than 170 vetoes since taking office in 1995.

"The bipartisan support for the bill certainly had something to do with it," said Rep. John Bryant, R-Tulsa. "I'm sure there is an element of doubt about whether a veto could be sustained," said Rep. Mike Thornbrugh, R-Tulsa. But Thornbrugh said changes from previous versions of the bill also made it more attractive and resolved some of Keating's concerns. The bill requires that insurance companies offer coverage of severe biologically based mental illnesses including schizophrenia, manic-depressive illness, major depression, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizo-affective disorder. In its final version, the bill has a "sunset" provision that ends the mandate if the measure causes health care premium costs to rise more than 6 percent total at the end of a three-year period. Businesses with 50 or fewer workers are exempt. Also, employers whose premiums exceed 2 percent in any given year can opt out of the coverage. Supporters have said mental health coverage normally amounts to less than 1 percent of average health care premiums. "It's a great day for those who have the affliction of mental illness," Thornbrugh said. "We're extremely pleased," said Rep. Mark Siekel, D-Harrah, who has fought for mental health parity legislation. Oklahoma is one of the few states without mental health parity. "It's a good piece of legislation and a great victory for the mental health advocates," Siekel said. The bill says "the state of Oklahoma is becoming more progressive" and cares about afflicted people, Thornbrugh said. "We're going to be more sympathetic," Bryant said. Making mental health services available for those who need it will mean that fewer people with mental health problems will wind up in state courts, state prisons and hospitals. "The thing you can't really measure is the cost savings," Bryant saved. "Money will be saved."