Bill to strike 'mentally retarded' from US code

Bipartisan legislation introduced Wednesday would strike the term "mentally retarded" from the section of the U.S. Code that governs major federal entitlements, reporter Elise Vieback writes in Healthwatch, The Hill’s healthcare blog.

“The bill from Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) would also expand the mental health services available to young people on Medicaid.

The portion of the bill striking "mentally retarded" would apply to the Social Security Act, which includes Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

"The Senate recently approved a bill striking the word "lunatic" from everywhere that it appears in the federal code," Vieback reports. "That bill, introduced by Sens. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), was praised by health groups." Read more...