Next week, the U.S. Senate is set to begin work on a package of changes to the Medicare program, including an adjustment to payment rates for physicians. During deliberations, we expect the introduction of amendments on three critical priorities for beneficiaries living with mental illness. First, parity for the current 50% cost sharing requirement for outpatient mental health services. Second, improvement to the Part D drug benefit would provide better access to medications for mental illness. Finally, a possible moratorium on proposed regulations on the Medicaid Rehabilitation Option could help preserve needed services covered by Medicaid.


ACT NOW!


We need your help to support these proposed changes to Medicare: Contact your Senators (by clicking this link http://capwiz.com/nami/issues/alert/?alertid=10587836&type=CO)today and urge them to contact Senate Finance Committee leaders Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Charles Grassley (R-IA) to advocate for improving the Medicare package. Tell them that we need parity for cost sharing for outpatient mental illness treatment; improvements to Medicare Part D to include a broad coverage of medications to treat mental illness, including benzodiazepines, and a moratorium on regulations on the Medicaid Rehabilitation Option.


Learn more about the proposed changes to Medicare.