NAMI - The National Alliance on Mental Illness

NAMI's Comments on Proposed Regulations on Rehabilitative Services

Medicaid Matters Website
New website to assist with Medicaid advocacy.

Medicaid Glossary
Definitions of terms associated with Medicaid.

Partnership for Prescription Assistance
A new toll-free number and Web site provide help to those who lack prescription coverage or cannot afford their medications.

State Budgets at the Crossroads
This presentation provides a detailed overview of the current budget situation that the states are faced with and what it means for mental illness services.

NAMI Policy Research Institute
Learn more about NAMI's Policy Research Institute, whose mission is to drive national, state, and local debates on reforms and investments in the nation's mental illness delivery and financing system.

Oregon's Center for Evidence-Based Practice Program
The Center for Evidence-based Practice (Center)is directed by former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber. It is a collaboration between the Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU), which contracts with three Evidence-based Centers (designated by the federal Agency for Health Care Research and Quality) at UCLA, UNC and OHSU for review of existing studies comparing drugs within a therapeutic class. The Center states that its purpose is to "promote collaboration among citizens, non-profit organizations, business, labor, research and government entities" on policy solutions.

HIFA Waiver Policy Raises Concerns
There are certain categories of individuals, and certain types of services, for which federal Medicaid funds are not ordinarily available. States can opt to cover these individuals with their own funds through waivers granted by HHS. Through the "Health Insurance Flexibility and Accountability" (or HIFA initiative) individual states are offered the flexibility to expand health insurance coverage but also to reduce benefits (including mental health benefits), increase cost sharing, and set limits on the number of lower-income people served.

The Risks of Cost-Sharing
Recent studies find that increasing cost-shairng for health benefits may result in decreased compliance with drug regimens. This may have negative consequences long-term.

President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health
Reports here address Medicaid and Medicare reform.

Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services
Consumer information, consumer publications, glossary.