Bazelon Center: Action Alerts

Your Chance to Speak Out for a Federal Parity Law

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 16:14:09 -0500

January 22, 2007—Americans who have experienced mental illness or addiction have a chance to tell Congress about the need for equal access to health insurance in hearings around the country in coming weeks. The hearings are part of "The Campaign to Insure Mental Health and Addiction Equity," sponsored by Representatives Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN).

Danger! Red Tape Ahead!

Tue, 28 Feb 2006 13:18:39 -0500

Medicaid Recipients Will Have to Document Citizenship
February 28, 2006—Children and adults who receive Medicaid will soon risk losing their eligibility if they can’t show the correct documents to prove U.S. Citizenship. If they lose eligibility, the federal government will not reimburse any mental health or other Medicaid services provided to them. That means that states and local mental health providers could lose substantial funding.

Medicaid Inpatient Coverage Would Break the Bank

Tue, 18 Oct 2005 11:12:56 -0500

Senate Finance Committee chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is being pressed to pass legislation this week that would allow Medicaid payment for care in private inpatient psychiatric facilities for people from age 21 through 64. Current law, known as the Institutions for Mental Diseases or IMD exclusion, bars Medicaid payment for care in these facilities for people in that broad age range. The exclusion covers hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions with more than 16 beds that are primarily engaged in providing diagnosis, treatment or care of individuals with mental illnesses.

Repeal of this law would likely draw funds away from community-based care, particularly peer support services, and increase hospitalization. Given the vastly higher cost of hospital care over community-based services, it would be enormously costly—at a time when Congress is attempting to cut billions from the budget.

This issue has not been vetted by Congress and requires further review before being considered for inclusion in the budget reconciliation (unlike other spending bills that have widespread support by the disability community, such as the Family Opportunity Act).

Take Action Today!

Please call Senator Grassley's staff person, Rodney Whitlock, at 202-224-4515 and urge that Senator Grassley oppose any repeal of the IMD exclusion. It is especially critical for people in Iowa to contact Senator Grassley's office.

Please also urge other Senators to oppose repeal of the IMD exclusion-- especially the following, who sit on the Finance Committee:

* Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), (202) 224-5251
* Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS), (202) 224-6253
* Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), (202) 224-5344
* Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ), (202) 224-4521
* Sen. Craig Thomas (R-WY), (202) 224-6441
* Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN), (202) 224-3344
* Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR), (202) 224-3753
* Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY), (202) 224-4343
* Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), (202) 224-6142

Syndicate Our News and Features

Proposed SSA Disability Rules Raise Serious Concerns

Mon, 17 Oct 2005 11:12:17 -0500

Proposed Social Security Administration regulations would revamp the disability determination process for people applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Supplemental Security Income Disability (SSDI) benefits. Some changes raise serious concerns. For example, if the new rules are implemented as now written, many eligible individuals could be denied benefits solely on technical grounds. New rules cutting short the appeals process could be particularly problematic for people with mental impairments. Advocates are urged to submit comments to SSA before the October 25 deadline.

Ask Senators to Vote No on Roberts

Wed, 21 Sep 2005 16:29:48 -0500

September 21,2005 --After careful review of Judge John Roberts' answers during the four days of Senate hearings on his nomination to be Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law has no choice but to oppose his nomination. We already had very serious concerns about Judge Roberts' expressed positions on disability rights, and his responses to Senators' questions did nothing to allay our fears.

Critical Medicaid Support for Katrina Victims

Tue, 20 Sep 2005 16:29:48 -0500

September 20, 2005 --The desperate and immediate need of hundreds of thousands of people displaced by Hurricane Katrina for health and mental health services created a dilemma for Congress, which had agreed to cut $10 billion cut from Medicaid. Because Medicaid is the primary source of states’ mental health care funding, such cuts would further shred the safety net for vulnerable populations, including many of those traumatized by Katrina.

Recognizing the need, Congress has postponed its budget reconciliation efforts until mid-October, and a bipartisan group of Senators has introduced emergency health care relief legislation. The Grassley-Baucus Emergency Health Care Relief Act uses Medicaid to meet the needs of Katrina survivors.

Congress Delays Budget Review in Wake of Katrina