[THIS IS THE DAILY BRIEFING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO ITS OFFICIALS AND OTHER SUPPORTERS OF ITS HEALTH-REFORM PROGRAM. IT PROVIDES AN INSIDE LOOK AT HOW THE ADMINISTRATION IS PROMOTING ITS PLAN. THIS ITEM WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME SUBJECT LINE (WITH DIFFERENT DATES) SO YOU CAN EASILY SKIP IT IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO READ IT.] The White House Health Care Reform Today November 18, 1993 * The Employee Benefit Research Institute, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research institute has taken a look at the issue of employer mandates and its impact on jobs. They say: "Using a variety of assumptions, EBRI produced a range of estimates on the employment effects of President Clinton's proposal ranging from 660,000 jobs created to 168,000 jobs lost." * Concerning mental health benefits: The structure of the benefit is designed to offer a flexible, continuum of care that allows health plans to tailor treatment programs to an individual's special needs. The emphasis is on encouraging health plans to move to a more flexible managed benefit approach which relies on a wide array of services to meet the treatment needs of individuals with mental illness and substance abuse disorders. * The initial benefit continues to use day and visit limits similar to current insurance policies. At the same time, the benefit is an improvement over current policies in that it provides coverage for a wider range of services than in typical insurance today, using substitution structuring to encourage flexibility and care management. * One important aspect of the benefit is that intensive treatment is not limited to residential settings. Less restrictive, non-residential treatment, such as partial hospitalization and day treatment programs, can be provided when appropriate. Appropriate utilization of these services will reduce reliance on expensive hospital care and encourage more community-based treatment. Also important is the inclusion of coverage for diagnosis, medical management, and crisis services. Health plans will have the flexibility to use case management when appropriate. * Clarifications, changes and corrections have been made to various sections in the draft bill... the mental illness and substance abuse benefit has not been singled out. We want to make absolutely sure the language is clear and consistent with our policy goals in every area. When the initial draft of the mental illness and substance abuse benefit legislative language was made public it became clear that different interpretations were causing confusion about the policy intent. * The President's Health Security Act, as presented to Congress, immediately addresses some of the most discriminatory practices within the current insurance systems. The Act also illustrates the Adminstration's commitment to making mental illness and substance abuse coverage part of a nation's comprehensive health coverage. This commitment is demonstrated by proposing a benefit structure which will eliminate all differences in insurance coverage by January 1, 2001.