Bush to call for parity in mental health coverage

CRAWFORD, Texas (CNN) -- President Bush plans to call for more "parity" Monday in how employers provide coverage for mental health and physical ailments.

But he will steer clear just yet of endorsing a Senate measure that would offer broad coverage guarantees as the administration seeks a less comprehensive -- and less costly -- compromise.

Bush will discuss his views during a stop in New Mexico; Sen. Pete Domenici, R-New Mexico, is a lead sponsor of the Senate measure.

House Republicans long have opposed parity, in part because it could prohibitively drive up the costs of insurance and discourage employers from offering coverage.

The Senate bill, on the other hand, would offer coverage for all the disorders covered in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, an array that ranges from major depression to jet lag.

One compromise would be offering parity in coverage for major disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression. Bush signed such a bill when he was governor of Texas.

Aides said the president at Monday's event would not detail just how far he was prepared to go, but would stress the importance of major mental illnesses being covered the same way as major physical ailments or trauma.