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Legislation
We cannot be silent.

We often ask you to take action for people with severe mental illness.  But if we don't stand up for people with a mental illness, then no one else will.

September 2009

It's the legislative season and there is an especially important vote coming up that will help us in California get much closer to true parity for mental health insurance coverage.  There still is a significant difference between what's covered for other health issues and for mental health.  It's important that we do what we can to make this huge change.  It's important for ourselves and for all the families that will come after us who will be beset by mental illness.
 
Below is a sample letter that you can use as a template for your own letter. Send this letter to the Governor. It is important that you advocate for those living with mental illness.
 
SAMPLE LETTER AB 244      

Date _________________      
 
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA  95814  
 
RE:  AB 244 (Beall)
 
Dear Governor:
 
As a member of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of San Fernando Valley and NAMI California, I strongly support AB 244 which would bring full parity for mental health coverage.  
 
AB 244 will require health insurance contracts and policies issued, amended, or renewed in 2010 to provide benefits to people with mental illnesses on the same terms and conditions as for people who have physical illnesses.  
 
Current California law does not require this parity for all mental illnesses and substance abuse.  As a result, individuals often do not receive adequate treatment until the condition has become severe, and that treatment may be by the state mental health system or correction system.  Delayed or absent treatment increases costs to families and our state health and correction systems, leads to increased homelessness, incarceration, physical harm or death. If AB 244 does not pass, California will not be in conformance with new federal parity law.  
 
There is no health without mental health.
 
(Add your own comments here).  
 
Sincerely,    
 
(Your name and address)
 
Cc:  Jennifer Kent, Legislative Deputy
        State Capitol Building, First Floor
        Sacramento, CA  95814

 
It only takes a minute to call

Health care legislation has reached a critical stage.  While neither the House nor the Senate is expected to move forward on a final vote on legislation immediately, a strong grassroots push is needed to keep the pro-reform effort on track going into the fall.  A toll-free number is up and running to direct calls to all House and Senate offices.  While advocates can also send e-mails and hand-written notes to members of Congress, phone calls directly to congressional offices are drawing the most attention in this critical stage in the debate.
 
NAMI has been engaging in a broad grassroots advocacy campaign throughout the summer recess. It is not too late to speak up and advocate for our loved ones and our families.

Act Now!

Advocates are strongly encouraged to call your Congressional Representative and Sentor to ensure NAMI is heard.
 
NAMI's Message to Congress is:

• Move this year on health reform legislation that provides quality and affordable health care for all while reducing the rate of growth in health care costs in the future;
• Ensure that mental illness treatment is included as part of any required basic benefit package AND is covered at parity relative to medical surgical benefits consistent with Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008;
• Address medical co-morbidities experienced by individuals with serious mental illness through expanded access to primary care and early intervention services.
  
  NAMI also urges that any health care reform package should include:

• Adequate financing in order to guarantee that health reform lives up to its promise of delivering comprehensive, affordable coverage;
  Income-based standards for premiums, co-payments, deductibles and all out-of-pocket health care costs;
• Premium subsidies on a sliding scale up to 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level along with limits on cost sharing so health coverage is affordable for all American families;
• An expansion of Medicaid that strengthens and maintains Medicaid's role as the base of coverage for current mandatory beneficiaries;
  Improvements to portability, enrollment, and renewal to maximize coverage, minimize red tape, and provide stability for all Americans;
• Regulations that prevent insurance companies from discriminating based on health status, gender, and occupation;
• Guarantees that quality, affordable health care coverage is available across the country and that individuals and families have options in selecting health plans;
• Financial support and incentives for primary community-based care -- especially for children and adults living with serious mental illness;
• Adequate cost savings to improve long-range fiscal stability;
• A strong employer responsibility requirement with penalties for those employers who do not offer coverage based on total payroll rather than penalties tied only to employees who receive income subsidies;
• Sufficient assistance for states so that federal health reform does not impose an unnecessary burden on already strained state budgets, and that does not punish states that have chosen to expand Medicaid and SCHIP coverage above federal requirements.

Learn More

Learn more about health reform and read NAMI's principles and goals for health reform legislation.

Thank You!

Your voice makes a difference for NAMI, for your family , for your loved ones, and for all those who cannot speak for themselves on these important issues.
 
Recent Calls to Action - Feel Free to Follow Up:

JULY 2009

It's true, we often ask you to take action for people with severe mental illness.  But if we don't stand up for people with a mental illness, then no one else will. We ask you again to contact your state representative to protect two programs that particularly are on the chopping block:  CalWorks and Health Families.  CalWorks helps pay for job training for people with a mental illness.  For consumers who are high functioning, this program has proven crucial in helping them get back to work.  Healthy Families is a state insurance program that often pays for care for indigent children  who need mental health services.
 
You probably have already heard the litany of cuts.  SSI recipients who have a mental illness will no longer have dental or chiropractic care paid for by Medical.  Developmentally disabled individuals will get their funding for dental.  Why the difference between these two groups?  The answer is simple.  We have stood silent when these political choices are made.  Relatively, we are politically weak.
 
But this can change.  If you take a moment and contact your state legislature and tell them cuts for CalWorks and Healthy Families is not acceptable, it will help.  Remind them that the budget crisis should not be resolved on the backs of the people who are the most vulnerable and the most in need.  Your note or letter can be short and simple.
 
Call or write. 
To find out who your state legislature click here or simply go to our NAMI-SFV Advocate page for a list of our locally elected officials, and then send either an email or, better, call and leave a message.  Just say you don't support cuts in CalWorks and Healthy Families and you think it's wrong to cut payments in SSI to people who have a mental illness (they have dropped about 7% and will continue to drop)
 
It only takes a moment.  You will feel better once you have done so.
 

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