CALL YOUR SENATE OFFICE TODAY, House Approves Jobs Bill; Action Shifts to Senate

CALL YOUR SENATE OFFICE TODAY!

House Approves Jobs Bill Including Extended Support for Medicaid Programs and Funding for the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF); Action Now Shifts to Senate December 21, 2009 On Dec. 16, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a $154 billion package of initiatives designed to promote economic recovery and job creation, including extended higher federal match funding for state Medicaid programs and a $1 billion investment in the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF). The vote was 217-212. The package -- known as the Jobs for Main Street Act of 2010 -- now moves to the Senate, which is expected to vote on the package in early January of 2010. Take Action Now! Advocates are strongly encouraged to contact their Senators to urge support for the House Jobs package (HR 2847). It is especially important for advocates to demand that Senators retain key investments in the House package for people living with serious mental illness including: $23.5 billion to extend the  higher federal Medicaid match rate (known as FMAP) for states through June 2011.  This higher match rate was put in place earlier this year as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  This higher FMAP has been critical in holding back additional cuts to mental health services at the state level (unless Congress acts, higher FMAP rates will expire in June 2010); and $1 billion investment in the NHTF to build and rehabilitate affordable rental housing targeted to extremely low-income households (including single adults with serious mental illness living on Supplemental Security Income (SSI).  In addition to the $1 billion for the NHTF, the package includes $65 million for project-based rental assistance to ensure that rents are affordable for households with extremely low incomes such as SSI beneficiaries. View more information on the NHTF. All Senate offices can be reached toll-free by calling (877) 210-5351. 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.

Congress Begins August Recess - Action Needed on Health Reform Legislation

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. Learn More Learn more about health reform and read NAMI's principles and goals for health reform legislation. 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.

The President's Economic Recovery and Stimulus Program and Consumers -- A Progress Report

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The President's Economic Recovery and Stimulus Program and Consumers -- A Progress Report April 29, 2009 As is being widely reported in the press, today marks the 100th day of the Obama Administration.  One of the major accomplishments for the new President was passage of the economic recovery and stimulus package, known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act or ARRA, in February.  As agencies across the government move to implement the new law and its $787 billion in spending over the next two years, NAMI is watching closely to ensure that people living with serious mental illness and their families are able to fully access support and assistance from the law. Advocates can monitor implementation of the ARRA by clicking on the White House web site set up to track economic stimulus and recovery spending. NAMI has compiled the following progress reports on programs funded by the ARRA, including extra cash payments for SSI and SSDI beneficiaries, homeless prevention funding, investments in medical research and Medicaid matching funds for the states. Learn more about the extra $250 payment to SSI & SSDI beneficiaries. Learn more about homelessness prevention funds. Learn more about medical research funds. Learn more about Comparative Effectiveness Research. Learn more about additional Medicaid funding for the states. 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.

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VICTORY ON MEDICARE!

July 16, 2008

Late yesterday, the House and Senate successfully overrode the President's veto of legislation (HR 6331) making critical reforms and improvements to the Medicare program for beneficiaries living with mental illness. The vote in the House was 383-41 and the vote in the Senate was 70-26.

NAMI is extremely grateful for the efforts of advocates all across the country that e-mailed, wrote and called their Senators and House members. Your advocacy made a tremendous difference! Please take the final step of thanking members of Congress that supported the legislation and voted to override the President's veto.

Act Now!

Click here to thank your Senators and House members who voted in favor of HR 6331, or to express your concerns to those who voted against the measure.

Learn More

View additional information on HR 6331.

CRITICAL VOTE ON MEDICAID THIS WEEK

Image via WikipediaCritical Vote on Medicaid This Week! Contact Congress Today!

June
18, 2008

Later
this week the House is expected to take up an emergency supplemental
funding measure (S 2642) that includes legislation to delay seven
separate regulations that would result in deep cuts to critical mental
health services under Medicaid. The House has previously
voted in
favor of stopping these regulations and the Senate voted last month to
do the same.

House
leaders are considering removing the delay on at least some of the
Medicaid
regulations, particularly the case management regulation. It
is
critical that the moratoria on all seven regulations stay in the
supplemental funding bill, despite an expected veto
threat from the President.

Act Now!

Please
contact your Representative today and urge support for the emergency
supplemental funding bill and inclusion of the moratoria for all of the
Medicaid regulations. Click here
to send a letter to your House member or call the Congressional
switchboard at 202-224-3121 to be connected to your House member's
office.

For
more information on these Medicaid regulations, click here.

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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.

TELL THE SENATE TO PROTECT MEDICAID!

Image via WikipediaTell the Senate to Protect Medicaid!
from: enews@nami.org.
May 21, 2008

Last week the House again acted to pass legislation that would delay a series of federal regulations that would severely limit Medicaid coverage of critical mental illness services including rehabilitation, case management, and school-based services. The delay in the regulations was part of an amendment to the supplemental war funding bill that included this delay on the regulations passed by a vote of 256-166.

NAMI is extremely grateful to advocates that contacted their House members –your voice made a real difference! Now the effort to include the delay in the Medicaid regulations shifts to the Senate, where the war supplemental funding bill will be taken up this week. Adding the moratoria to this "must pass" supplemental funding bill is likely the best legislative opportunity aimed at stopping these regulations and protecting Medicaid funding for critical community-based services for both children and adults living with serious mental illness. Because the President has threatened to veto the moratoria on the Medicaid regulations, it is critical that the Senate reject any effort to strip the provision from the amendment to the war supplemental funding bill (HR 2642).


ACT NOW!

We need your help again! Send a message to your Senators urging them to make sure the Medicaid moratoria stay in the war supplemental funding bill. In addition to protecting Medicaid, tell your Senators to support provisions in the bill that address critical priorities at home including:

* $96 million rent subsidies for permanent supportive housing (PSH) units for Louisiana and Mississippi ($76 million for Louisiana and $20 million for Mississippi) – these are supportive housing units targeted to current and formerly homeless individuals with mental illness in communities still devastated by the 2005 hurricanes,
* $475 million for VA Polytrauma Centers,
* $400 million for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and
* $275 million for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to upgrade safety and inspections.
For More info
Background on the Medicaid Moratoria Legislation

VOTE EXPECTED ON MEDICAID MORATORIA

Image via WikipediaVote Expected This Week on Medicaid Moratoria

May 12, 2008

This week the House of Representatives is expected to take up legislation providing supplemental funding for the current fiscal year for the military. During consideration of this legislation, an amendment for additional emergency domestic spending (such as educational benefits veterans) will be considered that includes a delay in 7 separate Medicaid regulations that NAMI supports.

Action Required

Advocates are strongly encouraged to call their House member and urge support for the "domestic spending amendment" to the FY 2008 emergency supplemental funding bill and the moratoria on Medicaid regulations (HR 5613) that the House approved on April 23 by a wide bipartisan margin.

Advocates can reach House members by calling 202-224-3121 (not a toll free call). Urge your House member to support the domestic spending amendment and the moratoria on the Medicaid regulations.

Send an e-mail message to your House member today!

View additional information on the proposed Medicaid regulations.

TAKE ACTION

Image via WikipediaHouse Panel Approves Moratoria on Medicaid Regulations!

April 11, 2008

Efforts in Congress to halt regulations that would undermine Medicaid financing of critical mental health services are moving forward. On April 9, an important House Subcommittee approved legislation (HR 5613) to impose moratoria on 7 separate Medicaid regulations. These regulations would severely hamper the ability of states to invest in services critical to the needs of people with serious mental illness. The bill would prevent these regulations from going into effect until April 1, 2009, when a new Administration will be in office.

A broader Senate companion bill to HR 5613 has been introduced by Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA). Their bill (S 2819) combines moratoria on all 7 regulations with $12 billion in fiscal relief for the states to deal with revenue shortfalls related to the current crises in the mortgage and credit markets. This includes a temporary across-the-board increase in each state’s Medicaid match rate.

ACT NOW!

NAMI supports the efforts in both the House and the Senate. Email Congress now and urge support of these bills. Urge your House member to support HR 5613 and efforts to stop regulations that would devastate funding for critical services for Medicaid beneficiaries with serious mental illness. Tell your Senators to support S 2819, which is an important step in preventing cuts to Medicaid at the state level.