Unite for Behavioral Health
Biweekly Advocacy Webinar Series
Webinar #8
National Council for Behavioral Health
April 26, 2017
Webinar Logistics
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use the questions dialogue
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the screen.
This week in Washington
• Draft text of revised health reform bill released.
• Health reform through regulation begins to take
shape.
• Congress focuses on funding government for
remainder of FY2017.
• White House nominates Assistant Secretary of
Mental Health and Substance Use.
• National Council continues registration for Hill Day
2017!
Revised AHCA Draft
• UNCHANGED: Draft maintains key provisions of AHCA:
– Repeals Medicaid expansion option for new states
– Repeals enhanced match for Medicaid coverage up to 138% of
poverty
– Converts Medicaid to a per capita capped or block grant system
– Cuts over $800 billion from Medicaid over ten years
• NEW: States can now determine for themselves:
– Definition of essential health benefits (2020)
– Whether to impose increased premiums for uninsured individuals
(2019)
– Coverage rates based on individual’s age and health status (2019)
What does this mean?
• Waiving essential health benefits
– States could remove or alter required health services
from plans in their states, including mental health and
addiction care.
• Waiving protections based on health and age
– States could allow insurers to charge people w/ preexisting conditions higher premiums, pushing some out
of affordable coverage.
– States could allow insurers to charge older individuals
more for coverage than younger people, again pushing
some out of affordable coverage.
Does it have the votes?
• Remains to be seen.
• Disagreements on reform still remain between a
divided Republican party.
– Hardline conservatives want more done to repeal the
tenets of the Affordable Care Act.
– Moderate members want to ensure health coverage
for those in need.
• There is no timeline yet for moving the bill.
Reform through regulation
• Trump Administration can implement large scale
changes to the Affordable Care Act without the
use and assistance of Congress.
– Reforming Medicaid through CMS state waivers:
• Imposing work requirements
• Implementing various cost-sharing measures like premium
payments and emergency room copayments.
• Redefining the Essential Health Benefits, including mental
health and substance use treatment.
• Revise annual open enrollment period for insurance coverage
Government To Do List
 Government funding expires this Friday, April 28
 FY2018 must be settled by October 1, 2017
 Debt ceiling set to expire this year
 Health care changes still needed
 Other proposals include: tax reform,
infrastructure, border wall, national security
There remains significant uncertainty, but
our advocacy efforts have only just begun.
Assistant Secretary for Mental
Health and Substance Use
Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz has been nominated to
serve as the first ever HHS Assistant Secretary for
Mental Health and Substance Use.
Served as Chief Medical Officer at SAMHSA from
2013-2015.
Currently serving as Chief Medical Officer at
Rhode Island’s Department of Behavioral
Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and
Hospitals.
Senate confirmation is needed for this position.
Our message remains…
• Medicaid is a key coverage source for people
living with mental illness or addiction.
• Please preserve Americans’ coverage of mental
health & addiction care.
Advocacy goals for Unite4BH Campaign:
• Raise awareness of the importance of
Medicaid for this population
• Highlight broad support for Medicaid
• Make lots of noise!
1. Write Letters and Call Congress
Click here to take action today!
2. Spread the Word
The AHCA would
gut Medicaid
coverage for our
nation’s most vulnerable while
shifting the burden of $880
billion to states. Take action
and protect the recent gains
made in behavioral health.
#Unite4BH
https://www.thenationalcounci
l.org/policy-action/nationalcouncil-act-now/
AHCA guts Medicaid,
shifts $880 billion
burden to states, and
squanders gains for
#mentalhealth and #addictions.
Protect Medicaid #Unite4BH.
Here’s how:
https://www.thenationalcouncil.or
g/policy-action/national-councilact-now/
Stay Engaged
Next Advocacy Webinar
Wednesday, May 10th
3 PM ET
Register here.
Questions?
Rebecca Farley
Vice President, Policy and Advocacy
[email protected]
Michael Petruzzelli
Manager, Policy and Advocacy
[email protected]