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“RCPA is a member of the National Council and we received this urgent request regarding the ACA.  Whether or not your agency is part of the National Council, we ask that you seriously consider joining this effort.” – Richard S. Edley, RCPA President/CEO
*ACTION ALERT FROM THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH*

Last night, an amendment to the American Health Care Act was released, providing a concrete sign that Congress is again working on legislation that would gut federal investment in Medicaid and devastate Americans’ mental health and addiction coverage and care.

In addition to restructuring Medicaid and shifting over $800 billion in costs to states, the revised version of the American Health Care Act directly targets provisions that are important to mental health and addiction advocates, including: rolling back essential health benefits, eliminating protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions and widening the gap in primary and behavioral health parity. For millions of individuals, these provisions would mean restricted access to Medicaid, restricted access to affordable coverage and restricted access to lifesaving mental health and addictions treatment.

Please take 2 minutes today and urge your legislators to oppose the revised American Health Care Act. Click here to get started!

Thank you to all National Council advocates who have engaged with us this year. We are asking that you continue to join us in uniting for behavioral health and ensuring that every American has the mental health and addiction care they need.

Sincerely,

Chuck Ingoglia
Senior Vice President, Public Policy and Practice Improvement
National Council for Behavioral Health

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The National Council for Behavioral Health has drafted a document outlining Medicaid funding in Pennsylvania for mental health and drug and alcohol services. The document provides pertinent information regarding how much money Pennsylvania receives in Medicaid funding and how Medicaid expansion has helped the state’s economy and allowed more individuals to receive health care benefits. Please contact Jack Phillips, RCPA Director of Government Affairs, with questions.

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Save the Date Tuesday, January 17:
Call Congress to Protect Medicaid Expansion

As Congress continues taking steps to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the National Council for Behavioral Health is joining together with Mental Health America, Addiction Policy Forum, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, and National Alliance on Mental Illness to protect the ACA’s Medicaid expansion.

Next Tuesday, January 17, we are asking advocates to join us in a nationwide call-in day to protect patients’ access to mental health and addictions services by preserving the Medicaid expansion. By taking just 10 minutes next Tuesday to call your Representative and two Senators, you will join thousands of dedicated advocates to have your voice heard in Congress. Join us and help save Medicaid expansion in 2017!

Why is Medicaid expansion important? Medicaid expansion is vital to our community—it provides health coverage to millions of Americans with mental health and addiction disorders. Without Medicaid expansion, low-income people across the country will be left as they were before the ACA, with no pathway to affordable health coverage.

Why advocate now? It is urgent that we defend Medicaid expansion now before Congress votes on ACA repeal. The more noise we make now, the better our chances of delaying or stopping future cuts to Medicaid.

Call-In Day Prep: Mark your calendar for January 17! The National Council will send out more information including step-by-step instructions for National Call-In Day to Protect Medicaid Expansion next week. In the meantime, you can prepare for your calls by reviewing these Call-In Day Instructions and Medicaid expansion talking points.

Have questions? Please feel free to reach out to Stephanie Pellitt at [email protected].

Thank you for your continued hard work and advocacy as we work to protect Medicaid in 2017.

Sincerely,

Chuck Ingoglia
Senior Vice President, Public Policy and Practice Improvement
National Council for Behavioral Health

Yesterday, a Texas federal judge issued a temporary injunction to the Department of Labor’s (DOL) overtime rule. In granting the preliminary injunction, the federal judge said the DOL’s overtime rule exceeds the authority the agency was granted by Congress.

As you may recall, the DOL’s overtime rule was announced in May, and it has been opposed by many businesses and nonprofits. The rule was to take effect on December 1 of this year. Now with yesterday’s ruling, it is likely that President-elect Trump’s administration, which opposed the rule, will have time to review it and make changes and/or roll back various provisions contained in the current rule.

The DOL could appeal the Tuesday ruling, but with the Obama administration only having approximately two months in office, an appeal is unlikely. With many RCPA members already implementing and announcing changes to comply with the DOL’s overtime rule, it might be difficult for those members to roll back these changes, because it may impact employee morale. As further information is released, RCPA will provide additional guidance to members. Please contact Jack Phillips, RCPA Director of Government Affairs with any questions.