Public Policy Update: May 28, 2009
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May 28, 2009
Sign up Now for Advocacy 101 Webinars and Prepare for Hill Day 2009
National Council Signs onto Letter of Support for Postpartum Depression Bill
National Council Submits Response to Request for Information (RFI) on Federal Parity Implementation
Nominations Now Being Accepted for the New CHIP Working Group
Recently Released Resources from the National Council
Mental Illness Chronic Care Improvement Act Introduced in Senate; Would Provide Funds for Collaborative Care
The Mental Illness Chronic Care Improvement Act of 2009 (S 1136), introduced on May 21 by Senator Debbie Stabenow, would authorize a new $250 million, four-year, Medicaid demonstration program in up to ten States to improve the health outcomes and satisfaction of individuals with chronic mental illness, "such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major clinical depression, or such conditions with co-occurring substance abuse disorders". States also have the option to expand their demo to other populations with mental illness or substance use disorders. Providers, such as Community Behavioral Health Organizations, would serve as the care coordination and managing entity.
S 1136 provides a unique opportunity to coordinate care for individuals with mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders within the Medicaid program. The National Council and its membership strongly support the authorization of the Mental Illness Chronic Care Improvement Act of 2009.
National Council & Other Advocates Submit Joint Comments on Healthcare Reform to Senate Finance Committee
The National Council, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Mental Health America, and the National Alliance on Mental submitted comments and suggestions on the Senate Finance Committee’s document, "Expanding Health Care Coverage." Although the comments support the basic principles of the document - such as expanding healthcare benefits - they also emphasize the importance of creating a benefits package that include mental health and addiction services.
More specifically, the comments support the idea of a health insurance exchange where individuals and families would be able to purchase health insurance after comparing several different insurance plans from multiple companies and possibly the government. However, the comments request two modifications to the health insurance exchange as described in the document:
- the premium subsidies must specifically extend to co-payments and deductibles, which is particularly important for people with chronic illnesses who often have high out-of-pocket costs related to accessing services needed to managing their condition
- the enrollment program should have an auto-enrollment process and include funds for one-on-one counseling
In addition, the comments:
- support the Finance Committee’s inclusion of mental health and substance use services as mandatory components of a package of medical and health benefits and elimination of lifetime limits on coverage or annual limits on any benefit
- want inpatient, outpatient and psychiatric rehabilitation services included in the benefit packages of the exchange
- believe it is necessary that prescription drug coverage in the health insurance exchange meets the same standards as Medicare’s Part D coverage
- support the elimination of the two year waiting period for people with disabilities to access Medicare
- encourage the Finance Committee to raise the Medicaid coverage standards to 150% of the federal poverty level (FPL) for single adults as well as for children, pregnant women and families
The National Council supports healthcare reform and continues to work actively to ensure individuals with mental health and substance use disorders will be covered in any healthcare reform program. Read the comments sent to the Finance Committee to learn more about the healthcare reform options supported by the National Council.
Sign up Now for Advocacy 101 Webinars and Prepare for Hill Day 2009
The National Council will be offering two Advocacy 101 Webinars in preparation for Hill Day 2009. During this presentation, National Council staff will go over:
- our Hill Day priorities, as highlighted in the recently released Health Care Reform Agenda resource
- the basics for advocating on the Hill and what you can expect from your Hill visit
- everything you need to know when you come to D.C. whether this will be your first year at Hill Day or you have attended Hill Day in the past.
We’ll also answer any questions you might have about participating in Hill Day. If you have a particular question you’d like to submit in advance, please email Christina Hammond at the National Council. Otherwise, you can ask your question during the webinar.
Please Note: The agenda for both of these webinars is the same but you are welcome to participate in both to benefit from the Q&A session.
Sign up now for one of the two Advocacy 101 Webinars!
- Register for Advocacy 101 on June 3, 2009 2:00-3:30 pm EST
- Register for Advocacy 101 on June 4, 2009 2:00-3:30 pm EST
Review the National Council's Healthcare Reform Agenda now in preparation for Hill Day.
National Council Signs onto Letter of Support for Postpartum Depression Bill
The National Council signed on to a letter of support for the Melanie Blocker Stokes Mom’s Opportunity to Access Health, Education, Research, and Support (MOTHERS) for Postpartum Depression Act (S 324), which was introduced by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) in January. The letter asks Senators to cosponsor this important legislation to increase much-needed research and services for postpartum depression (PPD) and psychosis.
The MOTHERS Act seeks to prioritize the issue of postpartum depression by raising awareness, expanding research, and establishing grants for the operation and coordination of cost-effective services to afflicted women and their families. The National Council will continue to support the MOTHERS Act and support women affected by PPD.
To see if your Senator is a cosponsor for this legislation click here.
Baucus Claims Healthcare Reform will Cover 95% of Americans; Republicans Offer Their Own Healthcare Reform Plan
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) told reporters on May 21 that he expects healthcare reform to cover 95% of citizens in the United States according to the Congressional Quarterly. Sen. Baucus repeated several times that all options are still on the table. He also encouraged stakeholders to be patient as they work out the details of a potential reform proposal. He reminded reporters the overall goal of health care reform is to improve the quality of care and decrease costs in the long run.
Republicans offered their own healthcare reform option last week. The Republican plan would require states to create an insurance exchange made up of private insurance options. The plan would provide a tax credit for individuals and families to help them purchase healthcare. The funding for the plan would come from taxing employer healthcare benefits.
National Council Submits Response to Request for Information (RFI) on Federal Parity Implementation
The National Council has submitted its response to the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Treasury's request for information (RFI) regarding the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). The RFI is the first step in the process to implement regulations governing the MHPAEA. The federal agencies are requesting public comments in advance of future rule making. Once the regulations are developed they will be announced in the Federal Register and there will be an additional opportunity for input via the comment process. The National Council's comments recommend that the regulations address a number of critical issues to ensure that the parity law results in equal access to a scope of services necessary to treat mental health and addiction disorders with no less financial burden or risk for the consumer than for other medical services. The recommendations address the following areas: reducing cost-shifting to consumers, preventing financial requirements and treatment limitations that are more restrictive than those available under the medical-surgical benefit, ensuring adequate scope of treatment, preventing the MHPAEA from pre-empting stronger state parity laws and regulations, applying an appropriate definition of medical necessity, and allowing appeals and independent review of denials of reimbursement or payment for services.
Implementation of the MHPAEA is a key element of the National Council's legislative agenda. For more information on parity, view the National Council's Parity webpage and factsheet.
Nominations Now Being Accepted for the New CHIP Working Group
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), along with the Department of Labor, is seeking nominations for a new Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Working Group. Nominations for members are due on June 1, 2009. The purpose of the CHIP Working Group is to:
- develop a model coverage coordination disclosure form for plan administrators of group health plans to permit a State to determine the availability and cost-effectiveness of coverage available under group health plans to employees who have family members who are eligible for premium assistance offered under a title XIX or title XXI State plan and to allow for coordination of coverage for enrollees of such plans
- Identify the impediments to the effective coordination of coverage available to families that include employees of employers that maintain group health plans and members who are eligible for medical assistance under title XIX or title XXI.
The CHIP Working Group was established by Section 311 of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-3) that directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Labor to jointly establish a Medicaid, CHIP, and Employer-Sponsored Coverage Coordination Working Group ("the CHIP Working Group"). The CHIP Working Group, as chartered, under the legal authority of section 311 of CHIPRA is also governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. The notice is now on display in the Federal Register.
Send self nominations and written requests for copies of the Charter: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850. Mail stop: S2-06-28, Attention: Stacey Green. If you would like the National Council to submit a nomination on your behalf, please send your name with a bio and contact information to Chris Loftis.
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 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).
NEW 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.
