National Council for Mental Wellbeing

Late last week, Congressional Republicans released a policy document detailing their vision for repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. The proposed plan includes rolling back Medicaid expansion and restructuring Medicaid into a block grant or per capita cap system while offering tax credits to stabilize the individual insurance market. It is expected that a formal bill will be introduced in the House Energy and Commerce Committee when Congress returns from recess next week.

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Before the close of the 114th Congress, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), and Al Franken (D-MN) introduced a wide-ranging measure aimed at promoting and expanding trauma-informed care across multiple sectors including health care, education, and law enforcement. The Trauma-Informed Care for Children and Families Act of 2016 is a potential vehicle for incorporating the science of adverse childhood experiences and trauma into federal policymaking.

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A Senate appropriations subcommittee convened a hearing on mental health treatments and services on Wednesday. The hearing featured testimony from National Council members, Dennis Freeman and David Johnson, and staff, Joe Parks, who presented recommendations improving the nation’s mental health care system. The hearing signaled Congressional members’ interest in supporting mental health funding, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

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While Cabinet confirmation hearings dominated the news cycle this week, discussions continued on Capitol Hill over how to move forward with repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. This week featured the introduction of new legislation as well as public back and forth among individual Members of Congress debating next steps. Legislators have yet to coalesce around a course of action on reforming the nation’s health care system.

Read More on Consensus Building on ACA Repeal, Replace Continues in Congress 

President Trump and members of the Congressional majority met in Philadelphia last week during the Republican retreat to discuss plans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). A leaked audio recording of the meeting reveals that GOP members remain divided on the best strategy and path forward for implementing changes to America’s health care system. With Congress still formulating its plan for health care, advocates have an opportunity to take action and voice their concerns about potentially dangerous reforms to essential health care programs like Medicaid.

Read More on Members of Congress Disagree on ACA Repeal During Republican Retreat