[NYAPRS Enews] MHW: Advocates Making Case For BH In Health Care Reform, Pushing Co-Sponsorship Of Key Bill

[Matt Canuteson]

Making The Case For BH In Health Care Reform, Pushing Co Sponsorship Of
Key Bill

Mental Health Weekly June 15, 2009

 

 

As lawmakers continue to work vigorously on proposals for health care
reform, more than 350 members of the National Council for Community
Behavioral Healthcare descended on Capitol Hill last week to add their
voices to the health care debate urging members of Congress and their
staff to support comprehensive parity for mental health and addiction
services in all components of health care reform.

 

The Hill Day event marked a victory of sorts following last week's
announcement by House lawmakers that they will co-sponsor S. 1136, the
Mental Illness Chronic Care Improvement Act (MICCIA) of 2009. Rep.
Janice Schakowsky (DIll.) will introduce it and Rep. Carolyn C.
Kilpatrick (D-Mich.) will be the original co-sponsor. Sen. Debbie
Stabenow (DMich.) introduced S. 1136 on May 21. The legislation would
authorize a new $250 million, four-year, Medicaid demonstration program
in up to 10 states to improve the outcomes and satisfaction of
individuals with chronic mental illness, such as schizophrenia,
schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and major clinical
depression.

 

Co-sponsorship of the legislation represented a key agenda item for the
National Council. "Introduction of the bill demonstrates the importance
of this issue and congressional commitment to improving the health
status of persons with serious mental illness," Chuck Ingoglia, vice
president of public policy for the National Council, told MHW.

 

The National Council's Fifth Annual Hill Day was held June 9-10 with the
theme, "Together we will." The participation of more than 350 people
from 40 states represents a record attendance, Linda Rosenberg,
president and chief executive of the National Council for Community
Behavioral Healthcare, told MHW.

 

"This is the most important thing that we do," said Rosenberg. "Hill Day
has helped to emphasize to our leaders in Congress that recovery is real
and that strengthening and expanding the mental health and addictions
treatment capacity in this country must be a part of the health care
reform agenda. "It is tremendous to have this level of grassroots
advocacy as we take on one of the most complex topics facing our
industry and our society today - health care reform," said Rosenberg.
Ingoglia added, "Given these considerable and challenging economic
times, the fact that folks would take time and spend money to come to
Washington is remarkable."

Key Agenda Items

The National Council has urged its members to focus on the following
initiatives, all of which address health care accountability, during
their discussion with lawmakers and their staff:

* Mental health and substance use disorders included in benefit
packages: Mental health and substance abuse benefits must be part of any
nationwide healthcare reform plan, with equitable insurance coverage for
mental health and addiction disorders on par with other health
conditions.

* "Federally qualified" behavioral health centers: Create a national
standard of evidence- based treatment and supports for persons with
mental illnesses and addiction disorders, with reimbursement based upon
the cost of delivering services.

* Co-location of primary care in community behavioral health
organizations (CBHOs): Enable persons with serious mental illness to
benefit from one-stop, comprehensive care for behavioral and physical
conditions under one roof. 

 

The inclusion of CBHOs in federal health IT funding initiatives is also
high on the National Council's health care reform agenda. The Health
Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act was
enacted as part of the economic recovery bill passed by Congress earlier
this year. 

 

It creates a new $17 billion Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement system
to help physicians, hospitals and community mental health centers
purchase and maintain health information technology for widespread
adoption and use of electronic health records. The National Council is
seeking inclusion of CBHOs in any federal HIT initiatives to ensure that
individuals with mental  illnesses and addictions have access to the
benefits of HIT via the providers that serve them.

 

The National Council is also urging Congress to include $35 million for
the Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration Grant Program in the
fiscal 2010 budget. The funding will help community based providers to
overcome the common barriers to providing general medical services and
expand their ability to collaborate effectively to provide integrated
health care.

 

A new federal definition for Federally Qualified Behavioral Health
Centers (FQBHCs) would establish federal status for CBHOs that volunteer
to meet the standards of an FQBHC, according to the National Council. It
would also provide a definition for such an entity that clearly
identifies treatment objectives and updates the minimum core services
required.

 

The National Council is seeking to create nationwide minimum
reimbursement for community-based mental health care and substance abuse
services - established at the federal level - that reflects the cost of
delivering those same services. "We see it as an opportunity to define
behavioral health care services and the behavioral health delivery
system for a whole host of people and large populations, including the
uninsured and underinsured," and individuals with mental illness and
addictive disorders, Richard H. Leclerc, president of Gateway
Healthcare, Inc., in Pawtucket, R.I., and Hill Day attendee, told MHW. 

 

Leclerc said he is encouraged that a Senate committee member had
contacted the National Council about providing a definition for FQBHC.
"Having a federal designation that's current is setting the groundwork
for being included in health care reform and also for future funding,"
he said.

Awards

The National Council concluded their Hill Day events with the
presentation of several awards honoring legislators. Patrick Kennedy
(D-R.I.), who was unable to attend Hill Day, received the National
Council's first-ever Behavioral Health Champion award.

Legislators of the Year awards were presented to Sens. Max Baucus
(D-Mont.), Sen. Tom Harkin (DIowa) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and to
Reps. Mary Bono Mack (R Calif.), David Obey (D-Wisc.) and Lucille
Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.).

 

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