NAMI Statement on the Revised "Better Care Reconciliation Act"

ARLINGTON, Va., July 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is deeply disappointed that the revised Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), released today retains provisions that impose significant barriers to treatment and services for people with mental illness.  The BCRA contains severe cuts to Medicaid benefits that would threaten access to critical mental health services millions of Americans rely on to lead healthy and productive lives.

Medicaid is the largest funding source for public mental health services in our nation. One-third of people covered by Medicaid expansion lives with a mental health or substance use condition.  Medicaid also covers 1.75 million American veterans - nearly 1 in 10 of the veteran population - who rely on this coverage for primary and mental health care.

The BCRA will further worsen the mental health crises communities across the country are currently facing in homelessness, suicides, emergency room boarding and burdens on law enforcement. 

Rather than moving forward with a bill that threatens to destabilize our nation's already struggling mental health system, NAMI urges Senators to reject the revised BCRA and to focus instead on small group and individual insurance market reforms needed in many states.  This will ensure that Americans will receive the mental health care they need to lead healthy and productive lives.

About NAMI

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

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SOURCE National Alliance on Mental Illness

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