NAMI SCC Website

NAMI Advocacy 

ACTION REQUESTED

NAMI advocates are urged to press members of Congress on the following legislative priorities:

1. Insurance Parity - NAMI strongly supports federal legislation to require health plans to cover treatment for mental illness on the same terms and conditions as all other illnesses (S 543/HR 4066). It is especially important that all House members be a) reminded of President Bush's support for parity and b) urged to contact Speaker Dennis Hastert to insist that he bring parity legislation forward in September. NAMI's most recent alert on parity legislation can be found at: http://www.nami.org/update/20020724.html
   
    
2. Mental Illness Research and Services Funding - NAMI supports increased funding for mental illness research at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). NAMI endorses efforts in Congress to complete the 5-year goal of doubling of the federal budget for medical research and supports an equitable share of increased funds for the NIMH. NAMI also supports increased funding for services programs at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that are targeted to helping states and localities replicate evidence-based programs directed toward children and adults with severe mental illnesses. NAMI's most recent alert on research and services funding can be found at: http://www.nami.org/update/20020723.html
   
    
3. Children and Adolescent Issues - NAMI strongly supports federal legislation to authorize states to set up Medicaid "buy-in" programs to assist families of children with severe disabilities to get the health coverage they need for their child's high cost needs (and in many cases to avoid having to relinquish custody). It is especially important for advocates to press their senators to urge Majority Leader Tom Daschle to schedule a vote on the Family Opportunity Act (HR 600/S 321) in September. NAMI's most recent alert on the Family Opportunity Act can be viewed at: http://www.nami.org/update/20020712.html. NAMI opposes efforts to erode current protections for children and adolescents with mental illness under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Additional information on threats to IDEA can be found at: http://www.nami.org/update/20020711.html
   
    
4. Housing - NAMI supports efforts to increase funding for key programs at HUD targeted to adults with severe mental illnesses (Section 811, permanent supportive housing under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, etc.). Of particular concern are efforts to ensure that there is adequate funding to renew all expiring rent subsidies under the 811, Shelter Plus Care and SHP permanent hosing programs. NAMI's most recent alert on HUD budget can be viewed at: An update on the effort to ensure renewal funding for permanent housing under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act can be viewed at: http://www.nami.org/update/20020730.html
   
    
5. Medicare - NAMI supports efforts to create parity for outpatient mental illness treatment services under Medicare (i.e., to eliminate the discriminatory 50% copay that applies only mental illness) and to add an outpatient prescription drug benefit to Medicare. NAMI's most recent alerts on Medicare prescription drug legislation can be viewed at: http://www.nami.org/update/20020801.html
   
    
6. Medicaid - NAMI affiliates across the country have been fighting deep cuts in their Medicaid budgets. In most instances, these proposed cuts are falling hardest on beneficiaries with mental illness. At the federal level, NAMI is supporting bipartisan efforts to increase the federal share of Medicaid (also known as FMAP) to relieve the burden of these cuts. NAMI also supports legislation to allow states to set up a new consolidated benefit for intensive mental health services including assertive community treatment (HR 2364/S 2072). NAMI's current position paper on Medicaid can be viewed at: http://www.nami.org/policy/wherewestand/medicaid02.html
   
    
7. Criminal Justice Issues - NAMI supports full federal funding for the Mental Health Courts program at the Justice Department in order to help states and communities address the growing and disturbing trend of "criminalization" of mental illness. NAMI's current position paper on criminal justice issue can be viewed at: http://www.nami.org/policy/wherewestand/criminalization02.html

Opinions expressed in this web site do not necessarily reflect the views of NAMI Santa Cruz County, NAMI California or any affiliated organizations.  We attempt to present a balanced perspective on issues by presenting multiple viewpoints.

Copyright 2004, 2005 National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Santa Cruz County, All Rights Reserved.

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