Public Policy Update: July 29, 2010
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July 29, 2010
The National Council is pleased to announce the launch of our new healthcare reform blog, MentalHealthcareReform.org. The blog will serve as a clearinghouse for all of our resources, news, and technical assistance on healthcare reform implementation. MentalHealthcareReform.org includes all of the resources you’ve typically found on our website, Public Policy Update, Technical Assistance Update, and mailing lists – consolidated into one place for easy navigation and access. In addition, we’ve posted links to valuable resources from other organizations. Check out MentalHealthcareReform.org to view the latest news and information on Medicaid, Medicare, integration, parity, payment reform, and much more!
Appropriations subcommittees in the House and the Senate have approved initial changes to this year’s Labor-Health and Human Services-Education appropriations bills. The House panel approved $76.7 billion in funding for HHS, slightly more than the current year’s allocation and more than the amount requested by the President. The Senate subcommittee’s version of the same bill included $74.6 billion for HHS, more than the current year’s allocation but less than that requested by the Administration. A full breakdown of the spending levels by program will not be available until the bills move to consideration by the full Appropriations Committee in each chamber. The House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to review the Labor-HHS-Education bill on Thursday; stay tuned to the Public Policy Update for the results of that session and the latest news on federal appropriations.
The National Council would like to thank our members who responded to this week’s Action Alert urging your Senators to keep moving forward on a 6-month extension of federal assistance for Medicaid (known as FMAP). So far, over 100 of you have reached out to more than half of the members of the Senate to express your support for the FMAP extension. If you have not already responded to our action alert, please do so today! With the midterm elections approaching, Congress is growing increasingly wary of legislation that would add to federal spending – and your legislators need to hear from you about how important FMAP is to your communities. Help us keep the heat on Congress – take action today!
The Department of Health and Human Services has released a draft version of its Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2010-2015. The plan is aimed at improving quality and efficiency of care; HHS’ five broad goals as outlined in the strategic plan are:
- Transform Health Care
- Advance Scientific Knowledge and Innovation
- Advance the Health, Safety, and Well-Being of the American People
- Increase Efficiency, Transparency, and Accountability of HHS Programs
- Strengthen the Nation’s Health and Human Services Infrastructure and Workforce
The plan also includes 25 specific objectives to meet these broader goals. HHS is inviting public comment on the draft strategic plan, the full text of which is available online. The public comment period will end on Aug. 14, 2010.
National Council Presents Information on Behavioral Health at National Conference of State Legislatures Summit
In conjunction with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) 2010 Legislative Summit, the National Council has released three new fact sheets on healthcare reform and behavioral health:
- “The Spillover Effect of Untreated Mental Illnesses and Substance Use Disorders on State Budgets” describes the significant cost to states and taxpayers of failing to invest in adequate mental health and addictions services. The report notes that 15% of total state spending on criminal justice, Medicaid, transportation, and public safety results from the failure to prevent and treat addiction disorders.
- “A Unique Opportunity to Integrate Behavioral Health Into the Person-Centered Medical Home” provides information about the medical home provisions of healthcare reform and their impact on states. The report also describes the components of a medical home and gives examples of medical home initiatives.
- “Health Reform and the Insurance Expansion: Does your State Have an Enrollment Strategy?” answers key questions about healthcare reform’s Medicaid expansion and how states can prepare a successful enrollment strategy for newly eligible beneficiaries.
At the Legislative Summit, the National Council is also promoting Mental Health First Aid and distributing our 2009 Joint Statement on Appropriate Utilization Management Approaches. For more information about NCSL and the 2010 Legislative Summit, visit the NCSL website.
