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Congress Begins August Recess – Action Needed on Health Reform Legislation
Both the House and Senate have begun their month-long summer recess and members of Congress will be in their states and districts until September 8. Pressure is mounting on Senators and House members on the critical issue of health care reform and the voice of consumers and families needs to be heard.
Action Required
Individuals living with mental illness and their families are strongly encouraged to reach out to members of Congress as they make appearances in their states and congressional districts over the next four weeks. Advocates should reach out to members of Congress through:
Requesting meetings with them in their state and district offices,
Attending congressional town meetings and "listening sessions,"
Calling into appearances on local radio programs,
Talking to them at community parades, picnics and other public appearances (ribbon cuttings, Rotary Clubs, etc.), and
Writing letters to the editor of local papers.
What is NAMI's Message?
NAMI's basic message to Congress is:
Move this year on health reform legislation that provides quality and affordable health care for all while reducing the rate of growth in health care costs in the future;
Ensure that mental illness treatment is included as part of any required basic benefit package AND is covered at parity relative to medical surgical benefits consistent with Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008; and
Address medical co-morbidities experienced by individuals with serious mental illness through expanded access to primary care and early intervention services.
NAMI also urges that any health care reform package should include:
Adequate financing in order to guarantee that health reform lives up to its promise of delivering comprehensive, affordable coverage;
Income-based standards for premiums, co-payments, deductibles and all out-of-pocket health care costs;
Premium subsidies on a sliding scale up to 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level along with limits on cost sharing so health coverage is affordable for all American families;
An expansion of Medicaid that strengthens and maintains Medicaid's role as the base of coverage for current mandatory beneficiaries;
Improvements to portability, enrollment, and renewal to maximize coverage, minimize red tape, and provide stability for all Americans;
Regulations that prevent insurance companies from discriminating based on health status, gender, and occupation;
Guarantees that quality, affordable health care coverage is available across the country and that individuals and families have options in selecting health plans;
Financial support and incentives for primary community-based care - especially for children and adults living with serious mental illness;
Adequate cost savings to improve long-range fiscal stability;
A strong employer responsibility requirement with penalties for those employers who do not offer coverage based on total payroll rather than penalties tied only to employees who receive income subsidies;
Sufficient assistance for states so that federal health reform does not impose an unnecessary burden on already strained state budgets, and that does not punish states that have chosen to expand Medicaid and SCHIP coverage above federal requirements.
NAMI E-News Alerts are electronic newsletters provided free of charge as a public service. With more than 1,100 state and local affiliates, NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with severe mental illnesses. Contributions to support our work can be made online.
If you do not wish to receive further E-News Alerts, please click here, sign in and uncheck the box next to E-News. If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please send an email to enews@nami.org.
Autism Votes... It's time for lawmakers to listen.
Dear Autism Advocate,
You are doing a FANTASTIC job with your calls and we wanted to take a moment to let you know that House Leadership IS listening to what you have to say. You are most definitely making an impact.
Congressman Mike Doyle (D-PA), Chair of the Congressional Autism Caucus, just pledged in a committee markup on comprehensive health care reform that any bill that does not put an end to autism insurance discrimination is unacceptable. Click here to watch Congressman Doyle's opening statement at the committee session.
Here is How YOU Can Help:
1. THANK REP. DOYLE! Please send Congressman Mike Doyle one email from your family thanking him for fighting for our children. Thank him for standing up and letting Congress know that health reform that does not stop autism insurance discrimination is unacceptable. You can send a thank you email to Congressman Doyle HERE!
2. FORWARD THIS EMAIL! Ask 20 of your friends to do the same by forwarding this email to them and asking them to take action.
Please stay tuned. Things are moving fast. We have more grassroots fun prepared for you for tomorrow so be on the lookout in your email boxes for the next directions for Speaker Pelosi's office. In the meantime, please remember that we are seeking donations to keep our tv ad on the air in order to keep the pressure on Congress to end autism insurance discrimination. Simply click the button below:
Together we will achieve autism insurance reform for every child with autism in America!
Sincerely,
Shelley Hendrix Director of State Advocacy Relations Autism Speaks
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee has begun its mark-up on health- reform legislation. Offices on the Hill are being flooded with calls and emails opposing health-care reform. This historic reform, however, is crucial to families affected by autism.
The draft of the Affordable Health Choices Act currently in the HELP Committee in the Senate addresses many of the issues that impact people with autism, including: prohibiting discrimination based on health status or disability; requiring guaranteed issue of insurancepolicies; prohibiting pre-existing condition exclusions; prohibiting lifetime and annual caps on coverage; and inclusion of community-based long-term services and supports. The passage of health-care reform that addresses all of these issues would profoundly help many families affected by autism. The Autism Society is deeply excited about the current draft of the Affordable Health Choices Act and applauds its commitment to aiding people with disabilities.
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