Mental Health Legislative Advocacy Priorities

Health Care Reform Implementation

Now that health care reform is the law of the land, we are working on a number of levels:

• Joining with advocates around the country to protect the important benefits it delivers;
• Influencing implementation activities by the federal administration and state governments;
• Pushing for federal regulations that broadly define the mental health and substance use disorder benefit to include a comprehensive array of services;
• Ensuring effective implementation of a ground-breaking Medicaid expansion.

Parity Implementation

With the federal mental health parity law now fully effective, we are working to increase awareness of its requirements, responding to requests on the impact on state laws, pushing for regulations that reflect Congressional intent, and monitoring compliance by health plans.

Comparative Effectiveness Research

We are building on our efforts to ensure a strong consumer role in the setting of priorities, oversight, development and dissemination of findings.

Prevention

Incorporating mental health and substance use disorder into federal prevention initiatives is an important priority. We also will be promoting and supporting legislation to encourage prevention activities at schools, including the Mental Health in Schools Act. We have strongly supported legislation that would protect students from inappropriate seclusion and physical restraint by requiring states to set minimum standards on their use. Although a bill passed the House last Congress, the Senate failed to act. In addition, we will be working on a project aimed at encouraging states to improve access to preventive services through their Medicaid programs.

Mental Health Funding and Appropriations

Funding for mental health programs and services at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Act (and other federal agencies) are at risk as Congress and the administration look to cut domestic spending. We will continue our advocacy in support of essential funding for these programs-and the implementation of health reform-in the appropriations process. In addition, we will work to support funding for behavioral health research at the National Institutes of Health.

Health Information Technology

We will push for legislation to extend financial incentives for adopting health information technology including electronic health records to mental health and addiction treatment providers and facilities.

Medicare Part D

We are working to maintain strong coverage of mental health medications.

Medicaid

With many states facing tight budgets, we are deploying resources to prevent or limit expected cuts to Medicaid, including restrictions on access to medications.