Contact: Steve Vetzner, (703) 797-2588 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (703) 797-2588 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or
svetzner@mentalhealthamerica.net
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (January 11, 2011)—Mental Health America joins Americans in mourning the loss of those killed in Saturday’s tragic and senseless attack and expressing our wishes for the full recovery of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and fellow citizens who were injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives and everyone who is affected by these horrific events. And we join in applauding the brave actions of individuals who prevented greater harm.
It will likely take many days to understand the reasons and motivations behind this national tragedy. Many have pointed to mental health as an issue.
It must first be emphasized that people with mental health conditions are no more likely to be violent than the rest of the population. And we have science-based methods to successfully treat persons with even the most severe mental illnesses. A very small group of individuals with a specific type of mental health symptoms are at greater risk for violence if their symptoms are untreated.
At the same time, we must recognize that the nation’s mental health system is drastically under-funded and fails to provide Americans living with mental health conditions with the effective community-based mental health services they need. Sadly, in the current environment of strained state budgets, mental health services have been cut drastically just as demand for these critical services has risen dramatically.
It is also important that, as a community, we assist persons with signs and symptoms of mental illnesses to seek treatment. Although rare, when a person becomes so ill that he/she is a danger to themselves or others state laws provide a way to get them help even if they don’t believe that they need it. The best strategy, however, is to have an accessible system of care that is easy to use.
Science has not developed tools to predict reliably individuals at risk for violence. But we can reduce the small risk of violence in those with certain mental health conditions by investing in proven intensive, coordinated community-based mental health services and making certain that they can access these services.
We do not know if the mental health system failed in this situation or if there were missed opportunities or if effective treatment might have averted this tragedy.
We do hope that we can find answers and create solutions that prevent this from ever happening again.
Mental Health America (www.mentalhealthamerica.net) is the country's leading nonprofit dedicated to helping all people live mentally healthier lives. With our century of service to America and our more than 300 affiliates nationwide, we represent a national movement that promotes mental wellness for the health and well-being of the nation— everyday and in times of crisis.The drive to extend an increase in federal Medicaid matching funds has been a priority of our advocacy efforts because it provides a critical link to needed mental health services for millions of low-income Americans. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), enacted in February of 2009, included additional Medicaid funding for states by providing higher federal matching rates through the end of December 2010.
However, states are still facing decreased revenues and increased demand for health care assistance as wages have declined and high rates of unemployment continue. In addition, because many states' fiscal years begin in July, the increase was slated to end halfway through the 2011 cycle, leading many to consider cutting benefits and provider reimbursement rates.
To address this problem, an extension of the Medicaid funding increase through June of 2011 was included in legislation introduced in the House and Senate in May (the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010). Anticipating these funds would be available, a number of states have incorporated the increase in their 2011 budgets.
However, the legislation faced opposition because of concerns over its cost and the impact on the deficit.
After the legislation failed to win approval in the Senate on three different occasions, a bill including $16.1 billion in Medicaid funding passed that chamber on August 5. The House returned from its summer recess to approve the bill the following week and the President later signed it into law. Although the bill scaled back the original amount of funding to win needed votes, the aid will help ensure that states can continue providing vital behavioral health care services.
A second victory occurred in September when the Senate defeated by a vote of 46-52 an amendment offered by Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) to a small business bill that would have gutted the new Prevention and Public Health Fund created under the health reform law. The Fund represents an unprecedented investment in much-needed preventive services, community level prevention and public health. It is urgently needed to address the many emerging health threats our country faces and the persistent chronic disease rates, including behavioral health conditions, which we must begin to control.
Congress is currently scheduled to return to work on November 15 for a lame duck session that could include consideration of a fiscal year 2011 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education spending bill. While neither the House nor Senate versions of that legislation are final, both include increases above the President's request for CMHS, SAMHSA and the National Institutes of Health. Your advocacy efforts are likely to be needed over the lame duck session to reject any efforts to strip away these proposed increases.A Brief overview from an article in the most recent issue of Psychatric News
As millions more people become eligible for Medicaid coverage in 2014 as a result of the new health care legislation some vital services for mental health and substance abuse consumers may be excluded.
Parity legislation may not apply to the new Medicaid program because some coverage, care coordination and housing support for example, have no counterpart in non-mental health related coverage.
There are some possible solutions.
1. Sates could be bared from restricting coverage. However, this is not likely to happen because of financial strains on the states and the anticipated fiscally conservative character of the new Congress.
2. The definition of the Medicaid essential benefits package could alleviate the shortfall. Thus, the final interpretation of the parity provision is crucial.
CALL TO ACTION - Contact your Senator Webb and Warner’s office. Tell them the unique services for mental health and substance abuse consumers must be protected by including them in the final interpretation of parity requirements.
Warner, Mark R. - 459A RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-2023 warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Contact
Webb, Jim - 248 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-4024 webb.senate.gov/contact.cfm
