Act Now On FMAP

The U.S. Senate majority caucus has begun debate on their next steps regarding an extension of Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for Medicaid. A six-month extension of the enhanced FMAP rate is at risk, and we need to act today! 

FMAP refers to the Federal matching funds for State expenditures for assistance payments--in this case for Medicaid.  The recently-passed Pa. budget depends on the FMAP extension, amounting in $850 million. 

If the extension is not passed, Gov. Rendell has indicated that he will make significant cuts to essential services and lay off state workers. 

Call to Action
Please call Sen. Casey and Sen. Specter today and thank them for their ongoing support. Urge them to speak up in support of the FMAP extension.  If you are not from Pa., your calls to your state Senators are equally important.  Please take a moment to make these calls today.  We have seen on many occasions: your calls can and do make a difference!

The Senate offices can be reached toll-free by calling (877) 210-5351 or (877) 442-6801, or through the Capitol Switchboards at (202) 224-3121. 

Advocacy Tips
FMAP fact sheets (developed by PA Budget and Policy Center) specific to each congressional district can be useful tools in your conversations urging for support of the FMAP extension.

When contacting members of the U.S. Congress or the Pa. General Assembly, it is always advantageous to share that you are a constituent and that you vote. It is crucial to share why this issue is important to you personally.

Go to the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania website and click on Legislative Affairs for details on the state budget.and effective advocacy tips.

Call to Action: Support HB 1190

We have just been alerted that House Bill (HB) 1190, introduced by Rep. Dan Frankel, will be considered by the Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee on Monday, June 21.

NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania has been consistent in its support of this legislation, and we remain grateful to Rep. Frankel in his efforts to safeguard any proceeds from the sale of Mayview and all similar state-operated facilities.
 
YOUR CALL TO ACTION
--Send an email to Rep. Frank Oliver, majority chair of the HHS Committee, urging support for HB 1190. Multiply your efforts by copying and pasting your email to all HHS Committee members.

--Contact your respective member of the state House of Representatives and ask for their support when the bill comes before the full House. 

TALKING POINTS
--Urge support of HB 1190!

--Identify if you are a person in recovery, a family member, community provider, etc.

--Insist that funds resulting from the sale or lease of any state-operated MH/MR facility be placed in a special community services trust fund.

--Remind them that recovery from mental illness can be a reality for the 2.2 million Pennsylvanians living with a mental illness or behavioral health problem, but ONLY IF people can access effective treatment and supports in our communities.

--Tell them that HB 1190 offers the potential to have a positive effect throughout the entire state.

For more information on this legislation or assistance on contacting your state rep., please contact Sharon Miller at (412) 366-3788 ext. 25 or email smiller@namiswpa.org.

NAMI Goes To "Capitol Day"

NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania took to the road to represent the voice of people in recovery and family members affected by mental illness at the Pennsylvania Community Provider Association's (PCPA) Capitol Day in Harrisburg today.

Our Executive Director Chris Michaels and Director of Education and Community Relations Sharon Miller are attending Capitol Day to rally and make legislative visits throughout the day. The goal is to educate members of the general assembly about the need to adequately fund essential mental health, substance use and intellectual disabilities treatments and supports in communities throughout Pa. 

Those in the mental health community can rest assured that their voices WILL be vocalized by NAMI today in Harrisburg.

Call to Action: Contact Your Legislator

Tuesday, May 25, is an important day to contact your House Representative. 

Today, the House of Representatives will take up legislation on House Bill 2435 (HB 2435) introduced by Rep Dwight Evans, majority Appropriations Committee Chair, that proposes raising revenue, thus decreasing the need for further funding cuts for essential community services.

So far, the General Assembly has responded to the state's revenue-challenged budget crisis with cuts to behavioral health and developmental disabilities services, community and economic development, services to low-income seniors and other critical services. HB 2435 finally acknowledges the need to end the cuts.

Please contact your House Representative today and share the following:

• *I am a constituent and I urge you to support HB 2435.
• *We demand that there be no more cuts to essential services. Urge for support in raising new revenue.
• *Solving the budget crisis with cuts alone will leave thousands more Pennsylvanians vulnerable and will cost jobs.

To find your Representative, click here and type your zip code into the upper right hand corner. Your state representative's name and contact information will appear. For today, contact each rep at his or her Harrisburg number.

For more information on HB 2435, click here.  For more information on mental health advocacy, visit the NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania website.

TAKE ACTION: Final Push Needed On Health Reform

The U.S. House of Representatives may vote as early as this week on final health care reform legislation that can be sent to President Obama for his signature. As reported by the press, the current plan is for the House to pass an identical bill to that which was passed by the Senate on December 31, 2009. This will be followed by a separate bill, making critical improvements to the Senate-passed bill. It then must go back to the Senate to pass under expedited rules as budget "reconciliation."

Take Action Today!

Advocates are strongly encouraged to contact their House member to urge them to support immediate House passage of the Senate bill. The Senate bill has a range of important reforms designed to expand and improve coverage of mental illness treatment - in both private group health plans and public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

View provisions in the Senate-passed bill that the House will be voting on.

Advocates can reach their House member by calling 800-828-0498.

You can also send you House member an email message by clicking here

It is time to finish the job on health care reform legislation. Call your Representative today!

For more inforamtion on NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania's advocacy efforts, visit our website.