Mental Health Legislation
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​Great You Tube video from the League of Women Voter in Wisconsin
​"How to Track and Influence Legislation in Wisconsin"
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12/20/2019 White House Summit:  Mental Health Reforms to Combat Homelessness, Violence, and Substance Abuse.
President Trump announced an increase of $328 million in new spending for mental health programs, including $19 million for Assisted Outpatient Treatment and $7 million for Assertive Community Treatment programs.
​EQUAL ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION TREATMENT SERVICES IS YOUR RIGHT
The 2008 Federal Parity Law requires insurers to cover illnesses of the brain, such as depression or addiction, no more restrictively than illnesses of the body, such as diabetes or cancer.
As rates of suicides and overdoses continue to climb nationwide, mental health parity is more important than ever. Unfortunately, many insurers are still not following the law.

​Learn More at Don't Deny Me. 
dontdenyme_infographic.pdf
 Update on Federal Opioid Legislation and FY 2019 Budget - September 28, 2018
______________________________________________________________________________
 
Congress has been busy this month advancing several priority items before it adjourns for the November elections. Below is an update on the opioid package and the fiscal year (FY) 2019 budget, and the impact of both pieces of legislation on mental health. 
 
Opioid Legislation
Last week, the Senate passed opioid legislation with overwhelming bipartisan support. The Senate’s bill had several key differences from the version the House passed in June. The House and Senate have reconciled their respective versions of the bill, and, earlier today, the House voted to pass the new version of H.R. 6, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act. We expect the Senate to vote on this bill next week and that the President will sign it into law.
 
Even though the House voted by an overwhelming bipartisan margin of 357-57 to modernize 42 CFR Part 2, which treats substance use information differently than other health information, this provision is not included in the final bill. NAMI believes that Congress cannot adequately address the opioid problem unless it aligns this outdated federal regulation with HIPAA, which protects health information for all other medical conditions.
 
By eliminating this provision, we continue a history of unequal treatment of substance use information that can result in tragic consequences for individuals in recovery. While we are disappointed, our work on this issue will not end. NAMI will continue to advocate in the future to make sure all health information is treated equally.
 
Fortunately, there are many provisions important to people with mental illness and co-occurring substance use conditions that are included in the bill, such as:
  • Requiring state Medicaid programs to suspend—not terminate—a juvenile’s Medicaid eligibility while incarcerated;
  • Expanding the use of telehealth services for substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions in Medicare;
  • Requiring state Medicaid programs to report on behavioral health quality measures;
  • Promoting incentives to help spur the use of electronic health records for behavioral health providers;
  • Mandating loan repayment for substance use treatment professionals in mental health professional shortage areas; and
  • Authorizing a pilot program to provide stable, temporary housing for individuals in recovery.
 
The bill also includes several changes to the IMD exclusion that are focused solely on the treatment of substance use disorders. NAMI will continue to advocate for changes that include people with mental health conditions. 
 
FY 2019 Budget
Earlier this week, the House passed an $855.1 billion FY 2019 appropriations bill to avert an October government shutdown. The bill, already passed by the Senate, will fund the Departments of Defense, Labor, Health & Human Services (HHS) and Education for the fiscal year beginning October 1. It also includes a continuing resolution (CR) to extend current funding for agencies not included in the bill through December 7. The bill is now with the President, who has promised to sign it. 
 
A smaller appropriations package was signed by the President on September 21 to fund several other agencies, including Veterans Affairs (VA).
 
Below is a summary of key provisions that impact people with mental illness and their families (increases noted below reflect additional funding over FY 2018 numbers):
 
Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
NIH will receive $39.1B, a $2B increase, which includes:  
  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): $1.812B, a $101M increase
  • The BRAIN Initiative: $429.4M, a $29M increase
    The BRAIN Initiative is a collaboration between 10 institutes at NIH, including NIMH.
  • All of Us—the Precision Medicine Initiative: $376M, an $86M increase
 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
SAMHSA will receive $5.7B, a $584M increase, which includes:
  • Community Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG): $722.6M (flat funding)
    The MHBG includes a 10% set-aside to support evidence-based programs that provide treatment for first episode psychosis (FEP).
  • Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers (CCBHCs): $150M, a $50M increase
    This funding is for states that received previous CCBHC planning grants and brought their CMHCs up to the CCBHC standards but are not the 8 states in the Excellence in Mental Health Act Demo.
  • Children’s Mental Health: $125M (flat funding)
  • Primary Behavioral Health Integration: $49.9M (flat funding)
  • Suicide Lifeline: $12M, a $4.8M increase
 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
VA funding for mental health and suicide prevention programs includes:
  • VA Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Programs: $8.6B, a $220M increase
  • VA Medical and Prosthetic Research: $779M, a $57M increase
  • Veterans Choice Program for FY 2019: $1.25B
    The Veterans Choice Program allows veterans to receive treatment, including mental health services, in community provider settings. This program will need an additional $18.2B in funding for FY 2020 and FY 2021.
 
Funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Justice is included in the continuing resolution.
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NAMI Joins Lawsuit Against the Short-Term, Limited-Duration Plan Final Rule
Sept 14, 2018

​Today, NAMI joined a lawsuit filed this morning in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to overturn the Administration’s recently-issued rule on short-term, limited-duration (STLD) insurance plans. The lead plaintiff is the Association for Community Affiliated Plans, joined by NAMI and the following organizations: AIDS United, American Psychiatric Association, Little Lobbyists, Mental Health America and National Partnership for Women & Families.
 
The new STLD rule dealt a blow to mental health parity by allowing for an expansion of health insurance plans that are not required to cover people with pre-existing conditions or provide coverage for mental health services. (Learn more about short term limited duration plans from Kaiser Family Foundation.)
 
These plans are permitted to:
  • Deny coverage for any pre-existing condition like mental illness; 
  • Charge higher premiums for people with a history of mental health conditions; and
  • Not cover mental health and substance use disorder treatment.
 
In addition, these plans are likely to attract younger and healthier individuals, many of whom will be left without the coverage they need in a mental health crisis or if they develop a mental health condition.
 
These short-term, limited duration plans will also result in higher premiums for comprehensive health insurance plans that provide parity mental health coverage and that don’t exclude people with pre-existing conditions.
 
All of the plaintiffs issued a joint press release this morning. The story was broken by the LA Times in their article, “Patient advocates, healthcare groups sue Trump administration to preserve insurance protections.” 
 
If you would like to tweet out information on this suit, please feel free to link to NAMI’s news item on the lawsuit.
 
If you receive any media inquiries regarding this lawsuit, please refer them to Richele Keas, NAMI Senior Manager of Media Relations at rkeas@nami.org.
 
Follow us on Twitter at @NAMIAdvocacy for updates.
From: Hannah Wesolowski <Hwesolowski@nami.org>
Subject: NAMI Advocacy: President’s Proposed FY 2019 Budget Request
Date: February 14, 2018 

RE:  President’s Proposed FY 2019 Budget Request
______________________________________________________________________________
 
On Monday, Feb. 12th, the President released his proposed budget for FY 2019. The President’s budget is a signal of the White House’s priorities, but it is not necessarily an indicator of what the federal budget will look like, since it is Congress that passes the budget. 
 
The President’s budget request includes proposed legislative changes to Medicaid that would hurt people with mental illness, including:
  • Promoting block grant approaches and per-capita caps that could reduce funding for mental health services and supports;
  • Implementing work requirements for individuals receiving Medicaid;
  • Increasing cost-sharing;
  • Allowing “flexibility” in benefits, which could reduce coverage of mental health services and supports; and
  • Ending Medicaid expansion, which helps many people with serious mental illness who otherwise fall through the cracks.
 
The President’s budget also proposes to make a devastating $83B cut to Social Security over 10 years. This includes at least $70B in proposed cuts to disability programs. The proposal includes cuts in the following areas:
  • Promoting demonstration programs that increase the number of people on SSI on SSDI in the workforce, which could jeopardize the economic security of people with mental illness (cut of $48.4B); and
  • Reducing the current maximum period of retroactive disability eligibility from 12 months to 6 months (cut of $10.3B).
 
In addition, the President’s proposed budget affects the following departments and agencies whose programs impact people with mental illness and their families:
 
Health & Human Services
The President’s budget proposes $68.4B, a $17.9B cut from the 2017 enacted budget, impacting several agencies that serve people with mental illness. However, the budget addendum adds $15.8B, for a net cut of $2.1B to HHS from 2017. Note: In the President’s budget and addendum, $10B is set-aside for opioid and serious mental illness within HHS.
 
SAMHSA
  • $563M for the Community Mental Health Block Grant (no change from 2017 enacted budget)
  • $119M for Children’s Mental Health Services (no change from 2017 enacted budget)
  • $65M for Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (no change from 2017 enacted budget)
  • $283M, a $112M cut to Mental Health Programs of Regional and National Significance; $50M of this is from primary behavioral health integration
  • Eliminated $497M, the entire State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Grants program
 
NIH
  • $23.75B, a $8.96B cut from the current year’s level
Note: The addendum adds $9.2B, which restores NIH to the 2017 enacted budget level. Of the HHS $10B set-aside for opioids and serious mental illness, the budget proposes $750M for NIH, which includes $400M for NIH's public-private partnership on opioids and $350M for research on opioids, serious mental illness and pain.
 
Housing & Urban Development
The President’s budget makes significant cuts and proposes changes to Section 8 and public housing that could increase rents on people receiving housing assistance and impose work requirements.
  • $39.2B, an $8.8B cut
Note: The total cut would be reduced to $6.8B after a budget addendum adds back $1B to avoid rent increases on elderly and disabled individuals, $700M for the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance account, which would restore 200,000 housing vouchers to maintain 2.2 million total vouchers, and $300M for the Public Housing Operating Fund. The President’s budget request also includes proposed legislative changes that could hurt people with mental illness, including implementing work requirements for affordable housing.
 
Veterans Affairs
The President’s budget makes encouraging investments in Veterans’ access to mental healthcare, homelessness programs and medical research.
  • $8.6B for Veterans’ mental health and suicide prevention
    • $468M increase over FY 2018
  • $1.8B for Veterans’ homelessness ($558M is for HUD-VASH grants to end Veterans’ chronic homelessness)
    • $26M increase over FY 2018
  • $727M for medical research ($122M is for mental health research)
    • $87M increase over FY 2018
  • $510M for Veterans’ caregiver program
    • $7M over estimated FY 2018
Note: 89% of the VA health budget is covered by an Advanced Appropriation. Other VA programs, such as the caregiver program, are appropriated with the rest of the federal budget.
 
Department of Justice
The President’s budget includes some cuts to programs in DOJ that affect people with mental illness.
  • $10M, a $2M cut from the 2017 enacted budget, to MIOTCRA (Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act)
  • $402M, a $1M cut from the 2017 enacted budget, to Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG)
NAMI will continue to advocate for mental health-related budgets as Congress finalizes the FY 2018 and 2019 budgets.
 
 
Hannah Wesolowski
Director of Field Advocacy 
Advocacy & Public Policy

NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness
3803 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 100
Arlington, VA 22203
Main: 703-524-7600
Direct: 703-516-7962
December 2017
Washington Update and Tax Reform

From: Hannah Wesolowski <Hwesolowski@nami.org>

Subject: NAMI Advocacy: Washington Update & Take Action on Tax Reform
Date: December 13, 2017 at 7:53:11 AM CST

To:         NAMI Leaders
From:    Advocacy & Public Policy Team
Date:     December 13, 2017
RE:         Washington Update & Take Action on Tax Reform
______________________________________________________________________________
Despite the holiday recess fast approaching, Congress isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. And, NAMI advocates aren’t slowing down either.
 
In this memo, you’ll find updates on:
  • Federal budget negotiations
  • The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
  • The federal Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC)
  • Federal tax reform (with action items)
 
Continuing resolution extends federal budget
On Dec. 7th, Congress passed another “continuing resolution,” or CR, to fund the federal government through Dec. 22nd. At that point, we expect Congress will pass another short-term CR to take the federal government into early 2018, when they are expected to revisit budget discussions. 
 
CHIP reauthorization on the horizon?
On Dec. 12th, a bipartisan group of 12 governors called on congressional leaders to act quickly to reauthorize the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), whose funding authorization expired on Sept. 30th. CHIP provides health coverage for more than 9 million low-income children, including children with mental health conditions. With support on both sides of the aisle, Congress is negotiating how to pay for the program.
 
New development: Congress did include a provision in the Dec. 7th continuing resolution to offer some limited, short-term assistance to CHIP programs. While this may help some states to fund their CHIP programs a bit longer, it does not direct any new money for 2018. Read more about the short-term emergency funding and which states face the most immediate funding threats here.    
 
Federal ISMICC to release report
On Dec. 14th, the federal Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee (ISMICC), mandated in last year’s 21st Century Cures Act, will release its report to Congress with recommendations on how federal agencies can better serve people with serious mental illness. NAMI CEO Mary Giliberti serves on this committee as 1 of only 14 non-federal members. Immediately following the release, the ISMICC will hold its second meeting at 10:30 AM. Tune in to watch the meeting.
 Tax reform efforts continue 
The House and Senate passed different tax reform bills, so the bills are now going to a conference committee, where both chambers will work to reconcile the major differences in the two bills. In both bills, there are proposals that would hurt people with mental illness—and NAMI organizations. As congressional leaders debate a final bill, NAMI advocates need to tell Congress to protect people with mental illness and oppose any tax reform bill that:
  • Results in higher health insurance costs. If the final bill removes fines for people who do not have health insurance (also known as the individual mandate), this will increase the number of uninsured Americans by an estimated 13 million. When fewer healthy people are insured, premiums increase—making insurance less affordable for people with mental health conditions.
    (Senate bill)
  • Ends the tax deduction for medical expenses. Repealing the medical expense deduction – which can include the cost of such things as visits to mental health care providers, inpatient stays or mental health medications – will harm people with serious mental illness who have very high medical expenses.
    (House bill)
  • Decreases the supply of affordable housing. A repeal of the tax exemption on private activity bonds – coupled with reductions in the corporate tax rate – would result in an estimated 950,000 fewer units of affordable rental housing, according to the National Housing Trust. This will cause even greater challenges for people with serious mental illness who rely on Section 811 housing.
    (House bill)
  • Reduces the incentive for charitable giving. Increases in the standard deduction on income taxes are projected to reduce the number of people itemizing deductions, including charitable contributions. The nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that this this will dramatically lower Americans’ charitable giving to nonprofits, including NAMI organizations. 
    (Both bills)
  • Politicizes non-profit organizations. A repeal of the Johnson Amendment would allow non-profits (like a NAMI affiliate) to endorse or oppose candidates. NAMI organizations could be pressured, including by donors, to take a partisan stance, jeopardizing bipartisan support among members and elected officials. 
    (House bill)
 
Act now on tax reform
Tell Congress that tax reform shouldn’t hurt people with mental illness.
 
  1. Post to Twitter
  2. Post to Facebook 
  3. Send an alert to your members  

Social media images 
 
Tweets
 
Tell Congress that higher health insurance costs, less affordable housing and an end to the medical expense tax deduction aren’t on our holiday list. #TaxReform shouldn’t hurt people with mental illness. http://bit.ly/2Biv7l7 #Act4MentalHealth
 
What is Congress bringing you for the holidays? Less affordable housing, higher insurance costs and an end to the medical expense tax deduction are in Congress’ tax bills. Tell Congress this is one present you don’t want.  http://bit.ly/2Biv7l7 #Act4MentalHealth
 
Facebook post
The House and Senate are negotiating a final tax reform bill. As a holiday gift, they could bring you higher health insurance costs, less affordable housing and no more tax deductions for mental health expenses. Tell your members of Congress this is one present you don’t want. #TaxReform shouldn’t hurt people with mental illness. http://bit.ly/2Biv7l7 #Act4MentalHealth 
 
Advocacy Alert
 
Subject line: A present we don’t want
 
Recently, the Senate and House passed two different tax reform bills that would impact people with mental illness. Senate and House leaders are now working out what they want in a final tax reform bill.
 
We need your help.
There are 3 things that could end up in the final tax bill that hurt people with mental illness:
 1.                   Higher health insurance costs. If the final bill removes fines for people who do not have health insurance (also known as the individual mandate), this will increase the number of uninsured Americans by an estimated 13 million. When fewer healthy people are insured, premiums increase—making insurance less affordable for people with mental health conditions.
2.                   No more tax deductions for medical expenses. Repealing the medical expense deduction—which can include the costs of visits to psychiatrists, inpatient stays, and medications—would harm people, including people with serious mental illness, who have very high medical expenses.
3.                   Less affordable housing. Too many people with mental illness lack affordable housing. A repeal of the tax exemption on private activity bonds would result in an estimated 950,000 fewer units of affordable rental housing. This will cause even greater challenges for people with serious mental illness who rely on Section 811 housing.
We can’t let this happen. Tax reform shouldn't hurt people with mental illness.
 
Tell your members of Congress this is one present you don’t want this holiday season.
 
Email now.
Hannah Wesolowski
Director of Field Advocacy 
Advocacy & Public Policy

NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness
3803 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 100
Arlington, VA 22203
Main: 703-524-7600
Direct: 703-516-7962
​
Victory for Mental Health Care
July 28, 2017

​NAMI’s six-month fight to defend mental health and substance use coverage is over and, together, we stand victorious.
 
In the early hours of Friday morning, the Senate’s “skinny repeal” of the Affordable Care Act came to an extraordinary end. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) joined Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)—and their Democratic colleagues—to reject the Senate bill by a vote of 51-49.
 
Just seven months ago, NAMI celebrated the signing of the 21st Century Cures Act into law. Today, we celebrate another win for mental health care.
 
You spoke up and Congress listened. They heard your stories. Because of you, they know that mental illness affects 1 in 5 of their constituents. Because of you, they know that stripping Medicaid funding would result in millions of Americans losing access to mental health and substance use services. And because of you, they know that taking a step back from insurance protections would harm people with mental illness.
 
Your voices made a difference. You sent 122,539 emails to members of Congress. Advocates 1,066 strong marched to Capitol Hill during our National Convention and spoke face-to-face with elected officials. You called, you tweeted, you posted on Facebook. You told Congress to work for bipartisan solutions that fix the insurance marketplace, not strip Medicaid and mental health coverage.
 
Thank you. You not only triumphed, you helped make mental health care a focal point of the debate.
 
Take a moment to congratulate yourself for being an integral part of NAMI’s movement to champion better care and better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
 
Thank your Senators who voted “no.” And urge your Senators who voted “yes” to work with their colleagues for quality, affordable mental health coverage for all.
 
What you can do:
  1. Send a thank you alert to your members
  2. Post on Twitter 
  3. Post on Facebook 
 
Social media image
 
Tweet for Senators who voted “NO”
Thank you [@SenatorTwitterHandle] for standing up to protect the mental health & well-being of all Americans. #Act4MentalHealth
 
General tweets
You spoke up and Congress listened. Thank you. http://ow.ly/oKW030dZQ5L #Act4MentalHealth
 
Thank you. You not only triumphed, you helped make mental health care a focal point of the debate. http://ow.ly/oKW030dZQ5L #Act4MentalHealth
 
Because of you, senators and reps know that mental illness affects 1 in 5 Americans. Thank you. http://ow.ly/oKW030dZQ5L #Act4MentalHealth
 
Facebook post
You called, you tweeted, you posted on Facebook. You told Congress to work for bipartisan solutions that fix the insurance marketplace, not strip Medicaid and mental health coverage.
Thank you. You not only triumphed, you helped make mental health care a focal point of the debate.
 
Advocacy Alert
Subject line: Congress heard you 
 
You spoke up and Congress listened. They heard your stories. Because of you, they know that mental illness affects one in five of their constituents. Because of you, they know that stripping Medicaid funding would result in millions of Americans losing access to mental health and substance use services. And because of you, they know that taking a step back from insurance protections would harm people with mental illness.
 
Your voices made a difference. You sent 122,539 emails to members of Congress. 1,066 of you marched to Capitol Hill during our National Convention and spoke face-to-face with elected officials. You called, you tweeted, you posted on Facebook. You told Congress to work for bipartisan solutions that fix the insurance marketplace, not strip Medicaid and mental health coverage.
 
Thank you. You not only triumphed, you helped make mental health care a focal point of the debate.
 
Take a moment to congratulate yourself for being an integral part of NAMI’s movement to champion better care and better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
 
Then, send a letter to your Senators to let them know how you feel about their vote.
 
Email your Senators
 
Angela Kimball
National Director 
Advocacy & Public Policy

NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness
3803 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 100
Arlington, VA 22203
Main: 703-524-7600
Direct: 703-516-7973
Mobile: 503-880-8710
act4mentalhealth-thankyou-fb.png
memo-senate_health_reform_vote_07_28_17.doc
​nami_statement_on_senate_vote_on_health_care_reform_07_28_17.doc

The Bill is Back
Senate vote early next week would cut Medicaid, impose per capita caps, and remove pre-existing condition protections​
7/20/2017
The U.S. Senate is resurrecting health care legislation with (at least) two proposals.
  1. The first proposal is the same health care bill that was pulled Monday, the Better Care Reconciliation Act” (BCRA)—which includes more than $700 Billion in Medicaid cuts and imposes per capita caps.
  2. The second proposal, the “Obamacare Repeal Reconciliation Act” (ORRA), would repeal the Affordable Care Act without a replacement; the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that this bill would result in 32 million people losing health insurances and raise insurance premiums by 100% by 2026.  
Both bills eliminate the protections for people with pre-existing conditions, eliminate the requirement that ten essential health benefits are covered by all insurance plans, and make it harder to provide home and community based services.
The Senate is now saying there will be a “motion to proceed” vote to bring these (or other) health care proposals to the floor, possibly Tuesday or Wednesday next week. Voting “Yes” will start a time-limited debate and process to pass the bills. National Disability Advocates’ assessment is that amendments will not fix these bills.(More on what a Motion to Proceed means).
All three versions of the health care bill—House version (AHCA), Senate version (BCRA), and the amended Senate bill—include the core approach of Medicaid cuts and caps which will harm people with disabilities. A straight repeal of the ACA removes important protections for people with disabilities—pre-existing conditions, essential health benefits, annual and lifetime limits etc.
Call Senator Baldwin (202) 224-5653) and Senator Johnson (202) 224-5323) with your concerns about Medicaid cuts and per capita caps, how Medicaid supports and services impact you and your family, and ask them to vote no on a Motion to Proceed for either bill.
We hear that our stories are having an impact. If you can, send 3 paragraphs about your Medicaid story with a photo to Senator Johnson and Senator Baldwin. Even better - make a 90 second video that you post on Twitter or Facebook.
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Action on the Square is April 28th, 2017
​Action on the Square is a day to spread awareness about mental health, learn about current legislative issues, and tell your elected officials what people affected by mental illness need to thrive! 
Learn the issues. Meet your legislators. Join our voice! 



Who can attend?
Anyone who cares deeply about mental health can attend on Action on the Square! No previous advocacy experience is required. 
What happens during the event?
  • 10:00-11:00am Registration and Networking
    • Meet and mingle with consumers, family members, and community leaders from around the state who share your passion for mental health advocacy
  • 11:00-12:00pm Issue Briefing and Brunch
    • Learn what's most important to the Wisconsin mental health community and legislators. Prepare to meet with policy makers and practice telling your story
  • 12:00-1:00pm Rally on the Capitol Steps 
    • Make some noise and hear from incredible speakers who inspire us to act, raise awareness, and advocate for mental health! The rally is free and open to the public. However, we would like to get an estimated head count so please let us know if you intend on being there.
  • 1:00-3:00pm Meetings with your legislators 
    • When you pre-register for Action on the Square, NAMI Wisconsin will arrange meetings for you with your local representatives. Share your story or attend and just listen. Either way, you can make a difference!
How much does it cost?
The registration fee for the event is $10. This includes brunch, meetings with your legislators, and a rally on the Wisconsin State Capitol steps. If this fee poses a financial hardship for you, please let us know and we will work with you. 
When is the deadline to register?
The deadline to register for Action on the Square is April 28th, 2017. However, you must register prior to April 1st to ensure a meeting with a local representative. If you haven't registered by April 1st, please call the NAMI Wisconsin office at (608) 268-6000. 
Register today! 
We hope you can join us in taking Action on the Square for mental health! Contact our Advocacy Coordinator, Crystal, at crystal@namiwisconsin.org with any questions. Thank you!
Register Now
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What Does the New Congress and New Presidency Mean for People with Mental Illness and Their Families
Presentation to NAMI Kenosha County
January 27, 2017

Andrew Sperling
Director of Legislative Advocacy
NAMI National
asperling@nami.org
nami_sperling_flyer_2__004_.pdf​
andrew_sperling_presentation_nami_kenosha_1.27.17.pdf

Radio Spots: 
  • Wednesday, January 25, 8:10 AM Andrew Sperling interview with Greg Berg WGTD
​Click here to listen to the interview: www.wgtd.org/playlist/morning-show/morning-show-012517 

TV Spots:
​The program will air Fridays at 4pm and Sundays at 2pm on channel 14 Kenosha Community Media for the month of February.
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21st Century Cures Act Signed on December 13, 2016
President Obama signed into law the 21st Century Cures Act, bipartisan legislation that will go a long way toward bringing about the medical breakthroughs we need to meet some of the biggest health challenges facing Americans today. No matter what corner of the country you live in, you or someone in your life has been touched by cancer, the opioid epidemic, devastating illnesses or serious mental health issues. The Cures Act makes significant investments in innovative technologies and research that could find a cure for Alzheimer's, end cancer as we know it, and help those who are seeking treatment for opioid addiction. 

Key elements in the Act that will improve the treatment of those suffering from serious mental illnesses include the elimination of the prohibition on same-day billing for mental health and primary care services in Medicaid, additional resources for suicide prevention and expanded crisis intervention training for first responders.
Mental health reform was championed in the House by Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa. and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, and in the Senate by Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Sen. Patty Murray D-Wash., Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. Important provisions of their bills were rolled into the 21st Century Cures Act which received overwhelming support in the House and Senate.

In addition to lobbying for mental health care reform on Capitol Hill, ENA also released its Naloxone Education Toolkit (NET) earlier this year in response to the opioid and heroin overdose epidemic. NET is designed to assist emergency nurses with providing education to patients and their family or peers who present to the emergency setting with an opioid overdose, or those who are determined to be at risk for an overdose.
2016 NAMI National Policy Priorities and Federal Legislation
​ Click the files below to see the latest information on 2016 priorities for policy and federal legislation.
nami_policy_priorities_and_comprehensive_mh_reform.pdf
File Size: 380 kb
File Type: pdf
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act4mentalhealth_5_priorities_overview.pdf
File Size: 79 kb
File Type: pdf
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election_questions_2016.pdf
File Size: 185 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
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November 30, 2016  U.S. House poised to vote on massive health & justice legislative package

HOUSE POISED TO VOTE ON MASSIVE HEALTH AND  JUSTICE-RELATED LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE

Contains many provisions that would impact counties

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on a massive legislative package that includes provisions related to criminal justice, mental health and addiction – many of which could impact the nation's counties. With limited time on the calendar in the "lame duck" session, the House released bill text late Friday that attached several separate pieces of legislation to the "21stCentury Cures Act," a top priority for congressional leadership which aims to accelerate new pharmaceutical drugs to market and stimulate research at the National Institutes of Health. 

While the details of the bill are still being negotiated by leaders in both chambers, there are several key provisions in the 996-page bill that relate to county priorities – some provisions are potentially beneficial, while others represent threats. 

Some of the helpful provisions include:
  • Reducing the number of people with mental illness in jails: By reauthorizing the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA), the bill would support local efforts to decrease mental illness in jails through a broad range of activities, including jail diversion programs, mental health courts, in-jail treatments and transitional services and crisis intervention training. Through the Stepping Up Initiative, counties are already working to reduce the estimated 2 million individuals with serious mental illnesses who are admitted to 3,100 local jails each year. This has been a long-standing NACo priority. 
     
  • Providing community-based behavioral health services: By reauthorizing the Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) block grants, the bill would continue to allow counties, through 750 behavioral health authorities and community providers, to deliver direct behavioral health services to those with mental health conditions and substance abuse disorders. While provisions to reform the mental health system are weaker than in previous stand-alone bills, the legislation still contains some county priorities for behavioral health reform, including strengthening the behavioral health workforce and enhancing the implementation of mental health parity. Mental health reform is a top priority for NACo. 
     
  • Combatting the opioid epidemic: By authorizing $1 billion over two years for state grants to supplement opioid abuse prevention and treatment activities, lawmakers have taken a significant step in efforts to end the opioid epidemic. While this is a positive first step, until Congress appropriates funds for these bills, local opioid programs will not receive additional federal support. The appropriation of significant funding for local opioid programs was one of the recommendations made to federal leaders in a report recently released by NACo's Task Force on the Opioid Epidemic, jointly launched this year with the National League of Cities. 
     
While the above provisions promise to address long-standing NACo priorities, we have serious concerns with how Congress plans to pay for the $6.3 billion package. Over half of the bill ($3.5 billion) would be offset by future cuts to the U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesPrevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF), which helps more than 1,900 county public health departments protect residents' health and safety and prevent the leading causes of death in our communities. Federal investments like the PPHF are responsible for approximately one-fourth of local health departments' revenue, and since 2008, budget cuts have led to the loss of over 50,000 jobs at local health departments. NACo has long fought to protect the PPHF.
 
Additionally, the initial draft of the bill also contained a provision including the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), which has now been stripped from the final Cures package. This language, which would have updated federal foster care requirements and introduced new federal funding for foster care prevention services, included a few provisions that concerned some NACo members. On Tuesday evening, the House Rules Committee approved an amendment stripping the language from the bill.
 
If House leaders are able to bring the package to the floor for a vote as planned, the Senate could take it up as early as next week. Further changes may be made to the legislative language as the two chambers continue to update and debate the bill. NACo will continue to monitor these changes and legislative actions.
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November 29, 2016  BREAKING NEWS: Congress to Vote on Mental Health Reform This Week
We’re Almost Home!
The mental health reform legislation we have all worked hard on has been added to a bill—the 21st Century Cures Act—that Congress will vote on as early as this week.  
To increase our excitement, language supporting CIT, mental health courts and other provisions to reduce the involvement of people with mental illness in the criminal justice system have also been added. 
  • Mental health provisions from H.R. 2646 in the final reform package can be found here. 
  • The full text of the bill can be found here.
Let’s take mental health reform all the way home.
Please share the following sample alert, Facebook post and tweets using the image below.

Sample Alert
Congress is expected to vote on Mental Health Reform as part of the 21st Century Cures Act this week.
It’s time to finish strong.
Urge your member of Congress and Senators to pass mental health reform now.
Email your members of Congress now.
 
Sample Facebook Post
We’re almost home. Congress is expected to vote on Mental Health Reform as part of the 21st Century Cures Act THIS WEEK. Make sure your representatives vote YES. Time is running out for mental health reform in 2016, and your voice can make a difference. Email using this link: http://cqrcengage.com/nami/app/write-a-letter?0&engagementId=263393
 
Sample Tweets
#MentalHealthReform is now part of #CuresNow. Tell Congress to pass both TODAY! http://cqrcengage.com/nami/app/write-a-letter?0&engagementId=263393
We’re closer than ever to making #MentalHealthReform a reality as part of #CuresNow. Tell Congress to vote YES on both. http://cqrcengage.com/nami/app/write-a-letter?0&engagementId=263393

We're Almost Home! 
The mental health reform legislation we have all worked hard on has been added to a bill- the 21st Century Cures Act-that Congress will vote on as early as this week.  
Language supporting CIT, mental health courts and other provisions to reduce the involvement of people with mental illness in the criminal justice system have also been added. 
  • Mental health provisions from H.R. 2646 in the final reform package can be found here. 
  • The full text of the bill can be found here.
 
Let's take mental health reform all the way home!
 
What can I do? 
Congress is expected to vote on Mental Health Reform as part of the 21st Century Cures Act this week.  
It's time to finish strong. 
Urge your member of Congress and Senators to pass mental health reform now.
Email your members of Congress now.
 
Post About It! Tweet About it! 
S.2680 Update - May 2016
Even though we are busy playing catch up back at the office, our work as advocates never stops. Federal mental health reform legislation is moving along quickly and NAMI has asked for help from its Wisconsin constituents. We are trying to schedule a meeting with Sen. Ron Johnson in his district office (Milwaukee) to ask for his co-sponsorship of S. 2680, the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016. Although we do not have hard dates, we're hoping this meeting will take place next week or the following week. If anyone is in the area or is interested in attending, please let me know. Attached is some background, talking points and leave behinds. If you can't attend, consider giving him a call. Thanks again for all your hard work!
Sen. Ron Johnson: 
http://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/

Click here for s.2680 Talking Points and How the Act can Help.
s2680-_wisconsin.pdf
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s2680-_general.pdf
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Mental Health Reform: Improving Access To Care and Reducing Incarceration
Webcast on Mental Health Reform includes NAMI Executive Director Mary Giliberti

As part of Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) activities, The National Journal, one of the country’s foremost publications on politics and public policy, presented a live webcast on Wednesday, October 7, on efforts to pass mental healthcare legislation in Congress.
U.S. Representative Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) spoke, followed by a panel discussion with NAMI Executive Director Mary Giliberti and other experts.
Learn More Here.
Watch the conversation live here
Join in on Twitter #NJMentalHealth
Support Comprehensive Mental Health Legislation in 2015

August usually brings to mind summer barbecues and back to school shopping. For Congress it means summer recess. Congressmen will be fanned out across their states and congressional districts until the week of Sept. 7th.

While members of Congress are back home they will be participating in local radio call in shows and making community appearances at events such as congressional town halls, county fairs, and Labor Day parades. These events provide terrific opportunities for you to talk with them about issues of concern.

NAMI can use your help.

Right now, there are several bills in Congress that are significant for people living with mental illness and their families.  Two of these bills would “comprehensively overhaul and strengthen America’s mental health care system.”  Please communicate with your members of Congress about the importance of supporting comprehensive mental health reform this year.  

Please ask your two U.S. Senators to co-sponsor The Mental Health Reform Act of 2015 (S 1945).  And, please ask your U.S. Representative to co-sponsor the The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act (HR 2646).

Read a NAMI blog about these important bills.

If you don’t run into your members of Congress in August, you can still help advocate for these two pieces of legislation.

 Email now! 
 Call now! 
 Tweet Now! 
Thank you for your advocacy!
The Second Chance Act (AB 387/SB 308) is now being circulated for co-sponsors.  

This is the bill that would return first-time, non-violent 17-year-old offenders to the juvenile justice system.  
Please call your State Assembly Representative and your State Senator: ask them to sign on as co-sponsors. Find your representative here.  Talking points are here.
Our goal is to get as many co-sponsors, especially Republican co-sponsors, on the bill as possible.  So, please make that call.  And, let me know (david.liners1@gmail.com,  414-736-2099) what you learn… if they say yes, or no, or if they have questions or concerns.  

Soon, we will also be looking for some people who could perhaps testify at a hearing about the need for this bill.  This is a piece of our 11x15 agenda that has a good chance to move forward very soon.  Please give it a push if you can!

WISDOM in the news:
1) Charles Hampton and David Liners on Milwaukee Public Radio on Ban the Box
2) Op ed written by Jerry Hancock that appeared in the Green Bay Press Gazette
3) WISDOM on Wisconsin Public Radio on Ban the Box action
Act Now to Reduce Incarceration of People with Mental Illness

Senator John Cornyn (R. Texas) has introduced The Mental Health and Safe Communities Act (S. 2002). This bill would do 3 things for people with mental illness in the criminal justice system:
  • It would help prevent unnecessary incarceration.
  • It would help provide better treatment and services for individuals while incarcerated.
  • It would help connect people with treatment and services following release from jail or prison.
Please reach out to your U.S. Senators and ask them to co-sponsor this important bill today! 

 Email now! 
 Call now! 
 Tweet now! 
Thank you for your advocacy!
Read more details about this bill.
NAMI’s statement about Senator Cornyn’s bill.