Whereas, legislation has been introduced in the First Regular Session of the 120th Legislature to require equality in health insurance coverage for mental illness, eating disorders and substance abuse treatment; and

Whereas, the Bureau of Insurance reports that approximately one in 5 Mainers has some form of mental illness; and

Whereas, millions of General Fund dollars are appropriated every year for the treatment of these conditions for children and adults in the budgets for the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Education and the Department of Corrections; and

Whereas, a comprehensive examination of cost-shifting from the private health insurance industry to Maine taxpayers has never been undertaken by State Government; and

Whereas, all studies of proposed mandated health insurance benefits for mental illness have neglected to include information about cost savings to the State and to private employers; and

Whereas, these same mandate studies have never included information from the private health insurance industry regarding the numbers of denied claims for coverage of mental illness; and

Whereas, the Governor's Year 2000 Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care report indicates cost-shifting occurs in many forms and contributes to the complexity of the health care delivery system and uneven treatment of consumers; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Cost savings to state agencies. Resolved: That the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Education and the Department of Corrections shall study the cost savings in their department budgets that may result from enactment of legislation mandating that private health insurance provide equality in coverage of mental illness and mental disorders, eating disorders and substance abuse for adults and