Senate Committee Begins Work on Medicaid Legislation
This week the Senate Finance Committee will consider important legislation making changes to the Medicaid program in order to achieve $10 billion in reductions over the next five years.

Help Us Improve Re-entry Support for People with Serious Mental Illness
A new bill is being introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to help ensure that people re-entering the community can have ready access to the benefits they need to survive.

NAMI Letter of Support for HR 619, Repeal of Medicaid's Discriminatory IMD Exclusion
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D. Louisiana) has introduced a bill, HR 619, to repeal the current prohibition on the use of Federal Medicaid dollars to pay for services for individuals between the ages of 22 and 64 in private and public inpatient psychiatric treatment facilities.

Support Improved Psychiatric Emergency Services under Medicaid!
Congressman Bart Gordon (D-TN) has introduced the Medicaid Emergency Psychiatric Care Demonstration Act of 2009 (HR 1415). This legislation would establish a 3-year $75 million demonstration program to allow for coverage for Medicaid patients in freestanding psychiatric hospitals.

Medicaid Funding of Mental Illness Treatment
Outline of the NAMI position on Medicaid; describes PACT, how the IMD exclusion perpetuates discrimination, and the advantages of the Family Opportunity Act for families affected by mental illness.

Using Medicaid to Expand Programs of Assertive Community Treatment: Where We Stand
Describes NAMI’s position on PACT, a successful evidence-based, outreach-oriented best practice service model for individuals with the most severe and disabling illnesses.

Contact Your Representatives about Medicaid
Use our online advocacy tool to send a letter to your elected officials right now and make your voice heard on this issue. Use our suggested text or compose a letter of your own.

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State Medicaid Forum
Find support, share knowledge and ask questions on financing and delivery of mental illness services in Medicaid programs.

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.