Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst.

President Biden took steps today to make getting mental health care as easy as it is to

get physical health care.

As MPR's Barbara Sprout reports, the new rule would enforce a law on the books that requires

insurers to make sure access to both kinds of care is equal.

Biden stressed the rules are meant to ensure that families have the same access to mental

health care as they do coverage for physical ailments.

For working to improve insurance coverage for mental health care in America.

And folks, you know, I don't know what the difference between breaking your arm and

having a mental breakdown is.

It's health.

There's no distinction.

It's health.

The rules would require health plans use similar factors in setting out of network

payment rates for mental health and substance use disorder providers as they do for medical

providers.

Barbara Sprout and Pierre News, the White House.

The State Department says that a former Marine released in a prisoner swap with Russia

last year was recently injured while fighting in Ukraine.

Imperial Smishelkeleman reports the U.S. has been warning all Americans to stay away from

the war.

The Biden administration released a convicted Russian drug smuggler back in April of 2022

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