August 13, 2009

President Obama Answers Mental Health Question at Town Hall Meeting as Healthcare Reform Debate Continues across the Nation; Make sure YOU are part of the Discussion

26 Senators Sign onto Letter on Parity Regulations Thanks to Advocacy Efforts by National Council Members and others

Bill Introduced in Senate Would Aid Individuals who are Chronically Homeless by Providing Housing Support and other Services

National Council and Other Advocates Release Priority Issues for Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage 

McLellan Confirmed as Deputy Director of ONDCP 

Resources from the National Council

President Obama Answers Mental Health Question at Town Hall Meeting as Healthcare Reform Debate Continues across the Nation; Make sure YOU are part of the Discussion

President Obama participated in a town hall meeting on August 4, 2009, in New Hampshire, to discuss healthcare reform, which continues to be the major topic of discussion and debate across the nation as Members of Congress return home for the August recess.  The President was asked about mental health in reform efforts and he stated his firm support of mental health inclusion in reform specifically in the form of mental health parity. 

"THE PRESIDENT: Well, you raise the -- (applause) -- you know, mental health has always been undervalued in the health insurance market. And what we now know is, is that somebody who has severe depression has a more debilitating and dangerous illness than somebody who's got a broken leg. But a broken leg, nobody argues that's covered. Severe depression, unfortunately, oftentimes isn't even under existing insurance policies.

"So I think -- I've been a strong believer in mental health parity, recognizing that those are serious illnesses. (Applause.) And I would like to see a mental health component as part of a package that people are covered under, under our plan. Okay? (Applause.)"

For individuals who would like to attend a town hall meeting with your Member of Congress, you can contact Christina Hammond to find out when one will occur near you.  Over 150 town hall meetings have been scheduled by Congress during August.  There are several great resources on healthcare reform including the National Council's Talking Points, Healthcare Reform Webpage and a new online resource by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on healthcare reform.

If you attend a meeting with your Member or their staff, please fill out a brief online survey and let the National Council know about your meeting.

26 Senators Sign onto Letter on Parity Regulations Thanks to Advocacy Efforts by National Council Members and others

In response to a National Council alert, over 450 advocates sent letters to their Senators encouraging them to sign onto the parity regulations letter, which was signed by 26 senators and sent to the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS) and Treasury. These departments are responsible for writing the parity regulations by October 3, 2009.  The letter reiterated the importance of the regulations, which will make certain that the intent of the law and Congress is fulfilled. 

The National Council would encourage its members to compose a short thank you note to their Senators who signed onto the letter to let them know their efforts are noticed and appreciated.  Contact information for your Senators can be found on the National Council's website.

Senators who Signed onto the Letter: Al Franken (D-MN), Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Kerry (D-MA), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Carl Levin (D-MI), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Jon Tester (D-MT), Joseph I. Lieberman (I-CT), Blanche L. Lincoln (D-AR), Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tom Udall (D-NM), Sherrod Brown, (D-OH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Robert P. Casey (D-PA), Mark Begich (D-AK), Bernard Sanders (I-VT).

Bill Introduced in Senate Would Aid Individuals who are Chronically Homeless by Providing Housing Support and other Services

On July 28, the Services for Ending Long-Term Homelessness Act (S 1523) was introduced by Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Jack Reed (D-RI) to help provide the 124,000 individuals and families suffering from chronic homelessness access to needed supports and services.  A similar act was introduced in 2004 in both the House and the Senate but it was never approved by committee.  S 1523 would help communities provide permanent supportive housing to individuals who: are chronically homeless, have a high rate of utilization of emergency services, and have a history of interaction with law enforcement personnel.  The act specifically mentions providing housing and support services to individuals who are suffering from a mental illness as the government acknowledges that long term housing is not enough.  The National Council espouses this legislation's efforts to provide support services, which must be included to end the cycle of homelessness and incarceration.

For more information on housing initiatives in Congress visit the National Council's Employment & Housing Webpage.

National Council and Other Advocates Release Priority Issues for Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage

Medicare Access for Patients Rx (MAPRx), of which the Nation Council is a member, released its 2009 priority issues for Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D) for the 111th Congress including:

• specialty tier and tiering: Congress should cap the total cost-sharing for beneficiaries and allow beneficiaries to appeal cost sharing for specialty tier drugs,
• off label: Congress must ensure Medicare prescription drug plans provide access to all medically accepted uses for prescription drugs by changing Medicare Part D to be consistent with Medicare Part B laws,
• six protected classes of drugs: Congress should make sure Medicare Part D continues to cover all of the drugs in these six classes and prevent utilization management techniques,
• medication substitution: Congress needs to ensure that automatic substitution of any prescribed drug is not allowed without the knowledge and consent of the treatment physician,
• comparative effectiveness research: Congress ought to guarantee that medical decisions made between healthcare providers and their patients are safeguarded,
• two year waiting period: Congress must eliminate the two year waiting period for all people with disabilities,
• step therapy: Congress should ensure full compliance with a CMS memorandum which indicates that beneficiaries will receive an explanation of how utilization management tools will impact them before signing up for a plan and request a study on how utilization management techniques impact beneficiaries,
• does restrictions or quantity limits: Congress needs to make certain that plans are not permitted to impose artificial dose restrictions or quantity limits on any drug prescribed by a beneficiary’s physician.

The National Council and MAPRx will continue to press Congress to make these needed changes to Medicare Part D and to continue to provide essential services and supports to Medicare Part D beneficiaries.  For more information on Medicare Part D visit the National Councils Medicare Webpage.

McLellan Confirmed as Deputy Director of ONDCP

Thomas McLellan was confirmed as the Deputy Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) by the Senate on August 7, 2009.  McLellan will help Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the ONDCP, set drug control policy in the United States and reduce the nation’s demand for drugs.  McLellan brings years of work as a leading researcher in addiction treatment as well as efforts to translate scientific findings into clinical practice to his new job.  Addiction treatment professionals hope the appointment of McLellan and Kerlikowske points to a shift in national drug control policy to treatment instead of incarceration for individuals who suffer from substance use disorders.
 

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 Thank you letter template for senators who signed onto the parity regulations letter.

NEW Parity Regulations Letter signed by 26 Senators and sent to the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury

NEW MAPRx Priority Issues for 2009

Healthcare Reform Talking Points for the August Recess

Amendments accepted by the Energy and Commerce Committee that relate to mental illness and addiction treatment:

• Engel/Matsui Amendment would create a federal definition of Federally Qualified Behavioral Health Centers (FQBHCs)
• Murphy Amendment would temporarily suspend Medicaid benefits instead of revoking them for individuals upon release from public juvenile facilities
• Baldwin Amendment would clarify the rules on Medicaid reimbursement for therapeutic foster care (TFC)
• Matsui Amendment would extend the delay in managed care provider tax elimination to October 1, 2010
• Murphy-Green Amendment would include substance use disorders in interdisciplinary mental and behavioral health training program grants
• Pallone Amendment would include the Community Living Assistance Services and Support (CLASS) Act, which would create a voluntary national disability insurance program

National Council released an updated FY 2010 Budget Chart to reflect the appropriations levels reflected in the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill.

The National Council signed onto a Letter of Support to lift the ban on federal funds being used for syringe exchange programs.

View the National Council healthcare reform update webinar series presentations and recordings on the National Council's website.

The National Council sent a thank you letter to Sen. Kennedy for his efforts on healthcare reform with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

The National Council sent a Letter of Support  to Senator Reed in favor of his amendment to include $50 million in co-location grants in the Affordable Health Choices Act.

The National Council signed onto a Letter of Support in favor of increasing the alcohol excise tax to help pay for healthcare reform.

The National Council signed onto a Letter of Support  in favor of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Act of 2009.

The National Council submitted comments as part of the CCD on HUDS's Notice of Funding Availability on Section 8 rental assistance.

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 Practice Improvement - Chris Loftis. Director of Public Policy - Alexa Eggleston. Director of Policy and Advocacy - Laura Galbreath. Mohini Venkatesh-Director of Federal & State Policy.