Public Policy Update: June 11, 2009
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June 11, 2009
National Council Hosts Nearly 380 Members at Fifth Annual Hill Day
Community Mental Health Services Improvement Act Introduced in Senate
Senate HELP Committee Releases Healthcare Reform Legislation
Resources from the National Council
National Council Hosts Nearly 380 Members at Fifth Annual Hill Day
The National Council had nearly 380 members travel to Washington, D.C. for its Fifth Annual Hill Day on June 9-10, 2009. Administrators, consumers and board members from around the country advocated for community mental health and addiction treatment. In preparation for their Congressional visits, Hill Day attendees participated in the National Council’s Policy Committee Meeting, in which they welcomed speakers on a wide array of topics, including:
- Inclusion of Parity in Healthcare Reform
- Creation of Federally Qualified Behavioral Health Centers
- Co-sponsor Mental Illness Chronic Care Improvement Act of 2009 (S 1136): Authorize a new $250 million, four-year Medicaid demonstration program in up to ten states for individuals with chronic mental illness including co-occurring substance use disorders
- Inclusion of Community Behavioral Health Organizations in Federal Health IT Funding
- Appropriations: Increase the funding for the Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration Grant Program to $35 million in FY2010. Support a $150 million increase to the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant and $100 million increase to the Community Mental Health Block Grant. Support full funding of the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act and the Second Chance Act.
- Co-sponsor the Community Mental Health Services Improvement Act (HR 1011/ S1188)
- Co-sponsor the Guidance, Understanding, and Information for Dual Eligibles (GUIDE) Act (HR 2390)
The Public Policy Committee meeting finished with a presentation by Jeffrey S. Crowley, Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy and Senior Advisor on Disability Policy for the White House. During the question and answer period for Crowley, he emphasized the importance of engaging a wide array of government officials in our efforts, including the President, Congress, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and state and local government officials. It’s important to share evidence and stories of what works and what doesn’t work.
On June 10, after a brief speech by former Senator Riegle, National Council members traveled to the Hill to talk to their Members of Congress. In concurrence with Hill Day, the National Council sent an action alert to the membership, asking them to write their Senators and to encourage them to co-sponsor the Mental Illness Chronic Care Improvement Act of 2009 (S 1136). Over 100 emails were sent to Senators.
Thank you to the members who joined us in Washington D.C. for the National Council’s 5th Annual Hill Day and to those that participated by responding to our action alert!
Community Mental Health Services Improvement Act Introduced in Senate
The Community Mental Health Services Improvement Act was introduced in the Senate (S 1188) on June 4, 2009 by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and co-sponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). The Community Mental Health Services Improvement Act (HR 1011) has also been introduced in the House by Representatives Gene Green (D-TX) and Tim Murphy (R-PA) on February 12, 2009.
S 1188/HR1011 would amend the Public Health Service Act to require the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary to award grants for the co-location of primary and specialty medical care in community-based mental and behavioral health settings, establish programs to address behavioral and mental health workforce needs in professional shortage areas, and support tele-mental health services in medically-underserved areas.
The National Council would like to thank the Senators Reed, Murkowski, and Whitehouse and Representatives Green and Murphy for their commitment to strengthening the behavioral health. We ask you to continue to encourage Members of Congress to co-sponsor this important legislation.
Senate HELP Committee Releases Healthcare Reform Legislation
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee released the language of the "Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009" on Tuesday June 9. Chairman Edward M. Kennedy (D-RI) indicated in a press release on Tuesday that the legislation included five key components:
- Choice: individuals can keep their current insurance coverage or choose from the insurance options available on the exchange
- Cost Reduction: reduce health care costs through stronger prevention, better quality of care and use of technology
- Prevention: promote early screening for heart disease, cancer and depression and give citizens more information on healthy nutrition and the dangers of smoking
- Health System Modernization: investment in training the doctors, nurses, and other health professionals who will serve the needs of patients in the years to come
- Long Term Care and Services: make it possible for the elderly and disabled to live at home and function independently
Sen. Kennedy indicated that there were several major areas of agreement between both Democrats and Republicans and both parties are committed to working through areas of disagreement. The HELP Committee will have a public comment hearing on Thursday June 11, 2009 to hear responses to the legislation. The National Council will have a more in-depth analysis of the HELP reform legislation in the coming weeks. Please stay tuned to the Public Policy Update for the latest information on health reform.
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:
The National Council released "Healthcare Payment Reform and the Behavioral Health Safety Net" by Dale Jarvis.
The National Council submitted its comments to the request for information (RFI) regarding the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA).
The National Council sent joint comments to the Senate Finance Committee on "Expanding Healthcare Coverage."
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 recently released a summary of the SCHIP Bill.
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.
