TWO LARGE-SCALE INITIATIVES FOR MENTAL HEALTH!
WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY IS NEEDED!
1) KEEP THE PROMISE TO INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE SYSTEM
2) RAISE THE INCOME LIMIT FOR MEDICAID TO REDUCE THE NEED FOR SPEND DOWN
1)This may be our last chance to achieve our longstanding goal to maximize federal revenue and invest in the community-based mental health service system.
The Medicaid Rehabilitation Option is set to move forward with no plans for investment back into the Mental Health System! Therefore, the state will begin to make millions of dollars off of the delivery of mental health services, but the system will be at risk.
WE MUST PROTECT THE SYSTEM OF CARE, AND NOT COMPROMISE CARE.
An Act Concerning State Spending on Community Mental Health Services (HB 5631) will help to assure that the Rehab Option is successful in improving services and promoting the service delivery system.
The whole purpose for maximizing Medicaid revenue, and why the advocacy community has pushed the Rehab Option strenuously, was to assure there would be new funding to strengthen the adult mental health system, and not have this result in the devolution of the mental health system! If DMHAS grant funds are taken, then we will end up with a net loss of services, given that many recipients are not Medicaid eligible, are on spend-down, and that there are services now provided that will not be Medicaid eligible.
There will be an upcoming hearing on this bill, so please consider testifying, attending, or calling your local legislators. For assistance with the public hearing process, please contact Alicia Woodsby at NAMI-CT at 800-215-3021 or publicpolicy@namict.org. You can begin to prepare your testimony now!
2) Raising the income limit for Medicaid will allow thousands of people with extremely limited resources and substantial health needs to be eligible for full Medicaid coverage, and to come off of the spend down program.
The two critical bills that address this issue are HB 5640 and SB 117. There are also several important proposals for expanding access to Medicaid and SAGA as essential steps toward universal health care. They do not include an increase in the income limit for Medicaid to Aged, Blind, and Disabled, which is currently at about 60-70% of the Federal Poverty Level! The spend down program is complex and restrictive, and it negatively impacts people who are on Medicare Part D.
Please call or write your local legislators and ask them to support the expansion of Medicaid and SAGA, which must include raising the income limit for people who are elderly or disabled to be eligible for the Medicaid program.
There will be an upcoming public hearing for which we will need widespread support. Please consider testifying, attending, or calling your local legislators. You can begin to prepare your testimony now!
We will alert you to the dates of the public hearings as soon as they are available!
Telephone numbers for legislators are:
Senate Democrats: (860) 240-8600 or (800) 842-1420
Senate Republicans: (860) 240-8800 or (800) 842-1421
House Democrats: (860) 240-8500 or (800) 842-1902
House Republicans: (860) 240-8600 or (800) 842-1423
Please contact Alicia Woodsby for further information or assistance at 800-215-3021 or publicpolicy@namict.org.
