Mental ill budget Cuts

NAMI

National Alliance of Mental Illness

http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=about_the_issue

America’s Mental Health Care Future

As a nation, the U.S. is the third highest spender on health care per person, yet our health outcomes rank 37th compared to other nations. We can do better. Even though the economy is in dire condition, our nation will recover. Our nation’s health care system is undergoing a complete overhaul to prepare for better times ahead. A uniquely American approach based on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (Parity Act) will bring the insurance industry into line and strengthen public/private partnerships. However, NAMI’s advocacy is needed to prevent harmful consequences and ensure the right care at the right time and in the right place to give every child and adult living with mental illness the chance to succeed in the family, school, workplace and community.

• Mental Health Care Priorities (PDF)
• Workforce Development (PDF)
• Integration of Mental Health Care, Addiction Treatment and Primary Health Care Fact Sheet (PDF)
• State Action Agenda—Summary (PDF)
• State Action Agenda—Full Version (PDF)

Budget Advocacy

Budget cuts today are dismantling state mental health care systems at levels never faced before. NAMI's top advocacy priority is to protect and strengthen state and local public mental health services. (more)

• Public Mental Health Service Funding: An Overview
• Talking Points: Block Granting of Medicaid
• How to Win the State Budget Battle
• Take it to the District—Tips for Advocacy Forums

The High Costs of Cutting Mental Health

The costs of cutting the state mental health budgets are high. The lives of the one in four Americans who experiences a mental illness at some point is at stake. Treatment works -- if you can get it.

Without treatment, more people will end up hospitalized, in shelters, on the street, in jail or dead. These are costs that are too high to pay.

Our fact sheets illustrate the impact of an inadequate mental health system on our communities . We can't afford to neglect our investment. Advocates are encouraged to print and use these in their efforts with elected public policy makers, the media and others.

• Homelessness
• Criminal Justice
• Children & Youth
• Health Care
• Mental Illness and the Workplace
• Unemployment

Policy Webinars & Presentations

• Nothing Says Recovery Like a Job
  Michael Cohen & Deborah Becker, Sept. 14, 2012
  Recording ID: 7G853H
  (Tip: Use Internet Explorer to view.)
  Resources
  Recovery and IPS Supported Employment
  
• Voter Registration Training - Mental Health Care Gets My Vote!
  Sita Diehl, Lynn Williams and Angela Webster, July 13, 2012
  Recording ID: 82BJBF
  Recording Key: policy
  (Tip: Use Internet Explorer to view.)
  
• State Hospitals Rebalancing: Considerations for State Leaders
  Kevin Martone, LSW, The Technical Assistance Collaborative, Apr. 11, 2012
  Recording ID: NDB4CG
  Recording Key: policy
  (Tip: Use Internet Explorer to view.)
  Resources
  Kaiser Learning from History 2007
  Medicaid Financing of State and Local Psychiatric Hospitalization
  State Regulation of Residential Facilities for Adults with Mental Illness
  Follow-up Responses by Kevin Martone
• PowerPoint: Understanding Medicaid's Role in Mental Health Funding
  Judy Solomon, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, October 21, 2010

Managed Care, Medicaid and Mental Health

• What is Managed Care? (PDF)
• What to Ask: A Checklist for Advocates (PDF)
• Provider Network Management (PDF)

Mental Health Block Grant

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has developed two policy framework documents to provide guidance to state mental health authorities and community stakeholders regarding allocation of Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG) and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment block grant (SAPT) funding.

• SAMHSA's Eight Strategic Initiatives
• SAMHSA's Description of a Good and Modern Addictions and Mental Health Service System (PDF).
• Community Mental Health Services State Block Grant Use by the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law