Dear National Council Members:

Yesterday, the Senate approved by voice vote an amendment to the Indian Health Care Improvement Act reauthorization bill (S 1200) that would place a moratorium on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rule on case management and targeted case management services. This amendment was sponsored by Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Norm Coleman (R-MN), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and we would like to thank them for their support. 
 
A vote in the Senate for final passage of the legislation has been scheduled for February 25th. If passed, the legislation will then go to the House of Representatives for approval. Even if the legislation passes both Houses of Congress, the President has indicated that he will likely veto. Despite this, yesterday's Senate vote for approval of the amendment is a critical win because it helps to bring attention to case management services in Congress.

We would like to thank our members who contacted their Senators and explained how important case management services are to the communities you serve. Your ongoing involvement and communication with your elected officials is essential to our ability to protect Medicaid payment for the services that you deliver. The National Council continues to work hard to make sure that Congress knows how important case management services are to supporting persons with mental illness, substance use disorders, developmental disabilities, and children in the child welfare system.
 
Sincerely,
 
Charles Ingoglia
Vice President, Public Policy