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S 3238 106th Congress Senate

Mental Health Access Act

Official title: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide protections for individuals who need mental health services, and for other purposes.

Introduced: October 25, 2000 Introduced by: Durbin, Richard J. Democratic · Illinois See on congress.gov
Health Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerceDiscrimination in insuranceDiscrimination in medical care
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Finance and Financial SectorHealth insuranceHealth insurance industryInsurance premiumsInsurance ratesMental health servicesStandards
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This bill died when the 106th Congress ended
It never became law before the 106th Congress (1999–2000) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 25, 2000
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Oct 25, 2000
Introduced in Senate
Oct 25, 2000
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11004-11005)
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 Latest action October 25, 2000

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Mental Health Access Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow a health insurance issuer to impose a preexisting condition exclusion relating to a preexisting mental condition only if: (1) such exclusion relates to a condition for which medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received within the six-month period ending on the enrollment date; (2) such exclusion extends for no more than 12 months after the enrollment date; and (3) the exclusion period is reduced by the aggregate periods of creditable coverage applicable to the individual or dependent as of the enrollment date.

Prohibits any such issuer from requiring an individual or dependent with a preexisting mental health condition to pay a premium or contribution which is greater than that charged to an individual without such condition when the additional charge is based solely on such preexisting condition.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 3238: Mental Health Access Act. 106th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/106-S-3238/
MLA
"S. 3238: Mental Health Access Act." 106th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/106-S-3238/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 3238, 106th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/106-S-3238/.
Markdown link
[S. 3238: Mental Health Access Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/106-S-3238/)
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