mr. selig, you're recognized for five minutes. >> vice chairman guthrie, ranking member green and members of the committee, thank you very much for the opportunity to appear before you as you examine the parity law and regulations. i am grateful that you've convened this hearing. my name is matt -- >> we have a request to pull the mic closer. >> oh, i'm sorry. my name is matt selig, executive director of health law advocates, a nonprofit, public interest law firm with a mission to improve access to health care for massachusetts residents. clients who have been denied needed health care. hla has made mental health and substance abuse parity a prior my -- priority for more than a decade. making the protections of the parity laws both federal and state a reality for those we represent. hla represents approximately 70 clients each year who have been denied treatment. this work gives us an up-close look at the problems consumers have when trying to access treatment. we also see how current laws are

mr. selig for his work and the work of health law advocates. it touches thousands of families and patients across massachusetts. it's a privilege having you representing our commonwealth today, sir. and for all the advocates throughout that have helped inform our efforts in this committee. without your support we wouldn't be where we are today. i thank you. when the house passed the bill in july, it was a need step forward in efforts to fix a deeply flawed system. but our work is far from over. because no matter how many providers we train, grant programs we fund, failure to insurance basic insurance coverage for those service means the vast majority of working and middle class families can't afford them. that's why i'm grateful for today's hearing. parity. the simple idea that substance use disorder and heart disease should be treated the same is the law. that's not what this debate is in fact about. but without proper enforcement and transparency, the law is little more than empty words. it i

mr. selig for his work and the work of health law advocates. it touches thousands of families and patients across massachusetts. it's a privilege having you representing our commonwealth today, sir. and for all the advocates throughout that have helped inform our efforts in this committee. without your support we wouldn't be where we are today. i thank you. when the house passed the bill in july, it was a need step forward in efforts to fix a deeply flawed system. but our work is far from over. because no matter how many providers we train, grant programs we fund, failure to insurance basic insurance coverage for those service means the vast majority of working and middle class families can't afford them. that's why i'm grateful for today's hearing. parity. the simple idea that substance use disorder and heart disease should be treated the same is the law. that's not what this debate is in fact about. but without proper enforcement and transparency, the law is little more than empty words. it i