MHA's Blog: Chiming In

Advocates won a big victory this week as the Senate defeated by a vote of 46-52 an amendment offered by Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE) to a small business bill that would have gutted the new Prevention and Public Health Fund. With this defeat, Mental Health America hopes the Fund now has a chance to reach its goal of expanding and sustaining investment in prevention and public health programs. 

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Mental Health America is joining forces with the National Council for Suicide Prevention and other partner organizations to spread the word about World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th and the Take 5 to Save Lives campaign (www.take5tosavelives.org).

Suicide is preventable and the campaign is part of a worldwide movement to change lives and save lives.

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Mental Health America has joined with more than 140 organizations in opposing the use of prevention and public health funding included in the health reform law as an offset for a proposed Senate amendment to a jobs bill.

The amendment, which will be offered by U.S. Senator Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) when the Senate considers the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act (H.R. 5297) on September 14, would virtually gut the new $15 billion Prevention and Public Health Fund (Fund) to pay for a change in business tax-reporting rules.

The Fund was established under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to support national, state and local programs to make Americans healthier and reduce racial and ethnic health disparities. President Obama has already allocated $500 million from the fund.

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Julio Abreu of our Public Policy and Advocacy Department reports on action taken on appropriations bills that affect funding for mental health services and supports.

On July 29^th, the Senate Appropriations Committee marked up the FY2011 Labor, Health and Human Services & Education appropriations bill, as yet un-numbered.  The Senate funding panel would provide a nearly $40 million increase for the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) and a $106 million increase for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  The Senate funding panel would provide the Administration’s request of a $1 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health.  The Senate panel did not cut funding for any consumer programs at CMHS.

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We have posted on our website a policy webinar, “Parity and Health Reform: Important Changes for Behavioral Health.” You can listen to the webinar by going to: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/action/policy-issues-a-z/healthcare-reform.