Public Policy Update: May 21, 2009
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May 21, 2009
Support Funding for Providers that Help Dual Eligibles Navigate Medicare Plan Options—Act Now!
Options for Paying for Healthcare Reform Considered by Obama and Senate Finance Committee
White House Drug Czar Calls for End to War on Drugs
Mental Health Screenings for Veterans of the War on Terror Supported by Over 50 Representatives
Sebelius Names Appointees to HHS Office of Healthcare Reform
Federal Ban on Economic Support for Needle Exchange Continues
Mental Health and Early Childhood Development Funds Protected by California Voters
Recently Released Resources from the National Council
Help Restore Funding for the State Grants Portion of the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Program
President Obama has proposed eliminating the State Grants portion of the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Program (SDFSC) in his FY2010 budget. The State Grants are an essential element of the United States efforts to educate young people on the harmful effects of drug and alcohol abuse.
The school based prevention programming and the school based prevention infrastructures currently in place in communities across the country would be decimated without State Grants funding. In addition, programs which serve as the portal into schools for other substance abuse prevention programs, as well as local education agency (LEA) data collection efforts through student surveys would be drastically reduced if not eliminated all together.
The behavioral healthcare field cannot afford to see the State Grants SDFSC program zeroed out or cut below the current funding level of $294.8 million. Although we have faced similar cuts in the past, if this program is going to survive, we cannot be complacent. Both Congress and the Administration must hear from the field en masse if we have any hope of restoring the program.
Write your Members of Congress and President Obama today to show your support for this essential program.
Support Funding for Providers that Help Dual Eligibles Navigate Medicare Plan Options—Act Now!
Until December 31, 2005 people who were eligible for both Medicare benefits and Medicaid benefits (dual eligibles) received their prescription medications under Medicaid. On January 1, 2006, dual eligibles began to receive their medication through Medicare. However, 53% of dual eligibles indicated in 2008 they had problems accessing medications. Among dual eligibles with a mental illness that had medication access problems, 27% experienced significant adverse clinical events including emergency room visits and hospitalization.
The Guidance, Understanding, and Information for Dual Eligibles (GUIDE) Act (HR2390) would create a three year demonstration program that would give financial assistance to community provider organizations to aid clients with a mental disability to access medication and navigate the complex Medicare enrollment process. The funding provided under the GUIDE Act would go directly to community provider organizations that serve dual eligibles. Currently, many providers to dual eligibles find themselves mandated to help clients who are dual eligibles navigate plan choices but are not reimbursed for their services. The GUIDE Act helps to address unfunded mandates that are often given to agencies and should serve as a model for other expansions in universal coverage.
The GUIDE Act was introduced on May 13, 2009, by Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard and is currently cosponsored by Representative Pete Sessions. Rep. Roybal-Allard is one of the National Council's Legislators of the Year in 2009 and will be honored at the Capitol Hill Reception on June 10, 2009 during Hill Day. Rep. Sessions has also been honored in the past by the National Council for his advocacy efforts on behalf of the behavioral healthcare field.
It is important to increase the number of Congressional cosponsors for this legislation to ensure community providers are given the financial tools needed to aid people with mental disabilities access medication and navigate the plan choices of Medicare.
Please write your Representative today to urge him/her to cosponsor HR2390.
Click here to view Rep. Roybal-Allard's speech on the floor of the House talking about this important legislation.
National Council Releases Healthcare Reform Agenda in Preparation for Hill Day; Register Now for Advocacy 101 Webinars
Healthcare reform discussions continue in Washington, D.C. with both the House and the Senate saying they will complete healthcare reform legislation this summer; the time for the behavioral healthcare community to be part of the discussion is now. In recognition of this once in a lifetime opportunity, the National Council released its healthcare reform agenda in preparation for Hill Day. The fact sheet includes the National Council's four main requirements for healthcare reform:
- mental health/substance use disorders benefits included in package
- cost based reimbursement for federally qualified behavioral health organizations
- serious mental illness healthcare home demo to support co-location of primary care services in community behavioral health organizations (CBHOs)
- inclusion of CBHOs in federal health information technology funding initiatives
To learn more about the National Council's healthcare reform agenda register to attend one of the Advocacy 101 webinars.
- Register for Advocacy 101 on June 3, 2009 2:00-3:30 pm EST OR
- Register for Advocacy 101 on June 4, 2009 2:00-3:30 pm EST
Haven’t registered for Hill Day yet? Register now!
Options for Paying for Healthcare Reform Considered by Obama and Senate Finance Committee
As healthcare reform discussions continue, the biggest barrier to achieving major reform is concerns over the cost of such reform; estimates suggest that healthcare reform could cost more than $1 trillion over the next ten years. President Obama has indicated that he believes a significant amount of the funding will be covered by the savings healthcare reform will generate. However, most of the savings will not appear until after reform has been implemented, making critics question how front-end costs will be covered. Several options have been suggested including taxing certain beverages, such as alcohol. Other suggestions for covering the costs of healthcare reform include a 28% cap on deductions for the top two tax brackets, increasing the taxes on life insurance companies, modifying the estate tax, and taxing healthcare benefits. The Senate Finance Committee indicated that they are reviewing all of the above options when considering how to pay for healthcare. A more detailed look at their proposals can be found in the press release.
White House Drug Czar Calls for End to War on Drugs
Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), indicated a shift in federal drug policy on May 13, by stating that the drug control policy would not focus only on the supply side of illegal drugs. Under Kerlikowske and President Obama leadership the nation will begin to form a more comprehensive drug control policy with a stronger focus on treatment and prevention. In the future, dealing with substance use would be just as much a matter of public health as a criminal justice issue. Kerlikowske stated that the nation will no longer be conducting a war on drugs because "we're not at war with people in this country." The Obama Administration indicated its shifting priority in dealing with drugs earlier this month when it called for legislation ending the disparity in drug sentencing between powdered and crack cocaine.
To learn more about the legislation ending the disparity click here.
Mental Health Screenings for Veterans of the War on Terror Supported by Over 50 Representatives
Fifty Representatives signed a letter sent to the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman and Ranking Member asking for an additional $300 million to conduct mental health screenings on returning soldiers. It was the same request made by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates in April. Reps. Michael E. McMahon (D-NY) and Tom Rooney (R-FL) also want the language of the Veterans Mental Health Screening and Assessment Act (HR 1308) to be included in the upcoming appropriations bill. HR 1308 would require the Department of Defense (DOD) to create a program to provide confidential screenings to detect mental health injuries acquired by troops during deployment in an effort to decrease the number of suicides among veterans.
Visit the National Council's Veterans webpage to learn more about veterans and mental health and substance use disorders.
Sebelius Names Appointees to HHS Office of Healthcare Reform
Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, named appointees to the HHS Office of Healthcare Reform. The appointees include: Jeanne Lambrew as the new head of the new department, Michael Hash as a senior advisor, Neera Tanden as a senior advisor, Meena Seshamani as the director of policy analysis, Caya B. Lewis as the advisor on prevention and public health issues, and Karen Richardson as the outreach coordinator.
"The HHS Office of Health Reform and the White House Office of Health Reform will work in tandem to advance legislation and take immediate actions to cut costs, assure quality and affordable health care for all Americans, and guarantee Americans can choose their doctor and their health plan," Sebelius said in a news release. To learn more about the new health reform offices read click here.
Federal Ban on Economic Support for Needle Exchange Continues
President Obama chose not to allocate funds for needle exchange programs in his FY2010 budget despite his campaign promise to fund them. Needle exchange programs, a form of harm reduction, were created by organizations in an effort to decrease the spread of HIV/AIDS among people who use drugs. The Obama Administration has stated its support of needle exchange programs but has decided to try and build support for the program in Congress and the public instead of using the budget to change policy. The needle exchange program has been traditionally controversial and is currently not funded by the federal government.
Mental Health and Early Childhood Development Funds Protected by California Voters
Many states are working on ways to balance their budgets during the recession and mental health and substance use centers are feeling the squeeze after years of being under funded. California in particular has been hard hit with an estimated $40 billion dollar budget gap for FY2009. The California legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reached a deal earlier this year to cut programs, raise taxes, and borrow money to help close the budget gap. The government then asked voters to allow them to take money from funds dedicated to mental health and early childhood development and immunizations to close the remainder of the budget gap. The money was previously dedicated to these funds by a voter referendum so it would have taken another ballot measure to allow the government to remove money from them. On May 19, the voters in California firmly rejected the ballot measures. By rejecting the ballot measures, the voters in California have saved the funding for essential mental health and childhood development programs. The only ballot measure to pass will freeze the salaries of elected officials during bad budget years. Gov. Schwarzenegger, who was in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday at the invitation of President Obama to help celebrate new higher fuel efficiency standards, is expected to try and decrease the budget gap by asking Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius for special permission to cut $750 million to the states Med-Cal program.
Recently Released Resources from the National Council
The National Council's website is frequently updated with issue briefs, letters, and other materials of interest to members. Please take notice of these recent updates:
NEW The National Council released its Healthcare Reform Agenda Fact Sheet in preparation for Hill Day.
The National Council recently launched it's new Children and Youth page on its website.
The National Council along with other health organizations recently sent a letter to Senator Baucus on the Finance Committee uring the includion of behavioral health in any HIT funding opportunities. The National Council also supplied a letter template to members to email to key Members of Congress.
The National Council sent a Letter of Support to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary in support of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2009.
The National Council recently released a new Fact Sheet on the Mental Health Services Block Grant.
The National Council has put together a multitude of informational resources for people applying for the Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration RFA from SAMHSA. Members can access the materials via our Members Only section of the website.
The National Council just released three fact sheets on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The National Council just released a chart comparing the Omnibus Budget Bill introduced in the House with the FY08 budget and the FY09 budget released by former President Bush.
The National Council recently released a summary of the SCHIP Bill.
The National Council recently released a resource guide, Veterans on the Road Home, which equips you to reach out and to effectively serve Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families. The book describes the physical, mental, economic, and social effects of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It presents detailed case studies of treatment organizations and associations with special expertise in and commitment to serving veterans and their families.
The National Council recently released a fact sheet on the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 which provides a detailed explanation of the impact of this bill.
Please contact Chuck Ingoglia, Vice President, Public Policy, with federal policy questions.
The Public Policy Update is a weekly e-newsletter published by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. Managing Editor - Christina Hammond. Vice President, Public Policy - Chuck Ingoglia. Director of State Policy - Chris Loftis. Director of Public Policy - Alexa Eggleston. Director of Policy and Advocacy - Laura Galbreath.
