NAMI Advocacy Action Center carries information about pending legislation that has significant impact on mentally challenged Americans and others. Your support is needed for H.R.4213.  NAMI reports the following information about this important bill:

Call Now to Preserve Vital Funding for State and Local Mental Health Services

State Medicaid Funding at Stake!

The Senate has been working on a new version of the Jobs and Tax Extenders legislative package that passed the House of May 28.  The bill, known as the American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act (HR 4213), includes a provision that would extend each state's federal Medicaid match rate (known as FMAP) through June 2011.  Without this extension, many states will very likely cut funding for Medicaid, which is the most important source of funding of public mental health services. The extended Medicaid FMAP was removed from the House bill, so getting it passed in the Senate is of particular importance. 

1. Extended Medicaid FMAP Funding - The new Senate version of HR 4213 includes $26 billion to extend the current higher federal match for state Medicaid programs that was included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in 2009.  This higher federal Medicaid match rate (known as FMAP) is set to expire at the end of 2010.  It is critical for Congress to extend the higher FMAP for states through June 2011.  Securing these funds now will help avoid further deep cuts to mental illness treatment and support services financed by Medicaid.  As many as 30 states have already passed budgets for 2011 that assume extended higher FMAP.  If Congress fails to act, these states will be forced to make additional cuts to human service programs including mental health services.  Read a full analysis of the impact of failing to extend Medicaid FMAP at this link:  http://www.cbpp.org/files/6-8-10sfp2.pdf
   
2. National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) Investment - HR 4213 includes $1.065 billion for initial capitalization of the NHTF, a program authorized by Congress in 2008 to invest in the development of rental housing targeted to households with extremely low incomes, including non-elderly adults living on SSI.  This provision of $1.065 billion will be allocated to states by formula and includes funding for capital and project-based rent subsidies to ensure that rents are affordable to people living on SSI.  More information on the NHTF and efforts to secure this initial capitalization is available through NATIONAL LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION at this link:  http://www.nlihc.org/template/index.cfm

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Mentally challenged people need help to avoid homelessness, prison, and health crises.  Mental hospital insurance, which is available under H.R.619, was omitted from the national health care reform bill that Congress passed.  The extended Medicaid FMAP, available under H.R.4213, was removed from the House bill.  Please ask your representatives to support both these important bills.  When important services are not funded, taxpayers save no money because more sick people join the 1.25 million who are already behind bars, adding to our $50 billion per annum prison budget and subjecing sick Americans to needless suffering.

Thanks in advance for helping mentally challenged people avoid incarceration (after avoidable crimes) by insisting that they have the support they need to live wholesome lives.

Mary Neal
http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com/

Assistance to the Incarcerated Mentally Ill
http://www.Care2.com/c2c/group/AIMI