Congressional Staff Briefing, Wed., Feb. 24 on Mental Health, Medicaid & Block Grants

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Feb 22, 2010, 07:43 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) advises that Congressional staff and reporters will receive information on the impact of America's economic distress and state budget cuts on mental health care. It includes reference to Senator Jay Rockefeller's "Medicaid match" extension amendment to pending economic recovery legislation in the Senate. The House of Representatives has already taken a position.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100216/NAMILOGO)

WHAT: CONGRESSIONAL STAFF BRIEFING on impact of nation's economic

distress and massive state budget cuts at a time when demand for mental health

services has increased 60 percent.

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Cannon House Office Building, Room 122

U.S. House of Representatives

Independence Avenue and 1st Street, SE

Washington, D.C. 20003

WHO: Sponsored by U.S. Rep. Janet Napolitano (Calif.)

House Mental Health Caucus

Speakers

The Honorable Kevin B. Sullivan, former lieutenant governor, State of Connecticut, West Hartford, CT.
National Board of Directors, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Mr. John Easterday, administrator, Wisconsin Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Madison, Wis..
Mr. Richard Leclerc, president/CEO, Gateway Healthcare, Inc.Pawtucket, R.I.
Dr. David Shern, executive director, Mental Health America, Alexandria, Va.

WHY COVER?—Background on:

Extension of higher Medicaid-match in pending economic recovery legislation; House position; Senator Rockefeller amendment
Mental health block grants; frozen at $420 million; there has been no increase for inflation in ten years.
States have been forced to cut mental health funding – for three straight fiscal years – while crisis hotlines, community mental health centers and others report alarming increases in demand for mental health and addiction services.
The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Research Institute reports that in FY 2009- 2011, states are cutting mental health care by $1.6 billion, with more cuts to come.

www.nami.org/stateadvocacy

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http://www.facebook.com/pages/NAMI/85273022315

SOURCE National Alliance on Mental Illness