NAMI - The National Alliance on Mental Illness

Action Needed – Sign Parity Petition
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida recently terminated mental health and addiction service providers and is seeking new contracts at substantially reduced rates through its affiliate New Directions Behavioral Health. This could affect patient access to care. Read further.

NAMI Joins “Friend of the Court Brief” Supporting Medicaid Provisions in the Affordable Care Act
NAMI joined 38 colleague national organizations in filing an Amicus (Friend of the Court) brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Florida v. HHS challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. Read further for details.

HHS Issues Guidance on Essential Health Benefits
On Dec. 16, 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an information bulletin outlining how it plans to implement the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that insurance plans offer at least a minimum set of essential health benefits. Read further for details.

NAMI Comments on Exchanges 10-31-11

NAMI Comments on Medicaid Eligibility 10-31-11

NAMI Comments to DHHS on IOM 10 11
Read NAMI's Comments to the Department of Health and Human Services listening Session on the Institute of Medicine Recommendations on Essential Health Benefits Under the Affordable Care Act

Accountable Care Organizations
The Affordable Care Act establishes Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) as a new type of provider within the Medicare program. Read comments submitted by NAMI and proposed federal ACO rules.

IOM Comments on Essential Benefits Package
Read NAMI's comments to the Institute of Medicine on the Essential Benefits Package in Health Care Reform.

NAMI Comments on the Planning and Establishment of State-Level Exchanges
Read comments provided by NAMI to the Department of Health & Human Services regarding state-level exchanges.

NAMI Comments on the Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act (HR 6143)
Read submitted comments submitted by NAMI to Representative Paul Tonko in support of the Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act (HR 6143)

NAMI Comments on Preventive Services Requirements
Read comments provided by NAMI on interim final rules for group health plans and health insurance issuers relating to coverage of preventetive services under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Healthcare.gov
The Obama administration launched HealthCare.gov with new fact sheets and explanations of the Health Care Reform law.